The Legislative Budget Board, in cooperation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), has determined that:

The bill amends Subtitle C, Title 4, Special District Local Laws Code by adding Chapter 3865 to create Aliana Management District (District) with the powers and duties of a municipal management district under Water Code Chapter 49 and Chapters 375, 380, 505, and 1509, Local Government Code, applicable to a municipal management district created under Section 52 and 52-a, Article III, and Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, to benefit the property within the District. 

The bill does not name five temporary directors. The initial and succeeding board of directors shall recommend to the Fort Bend County Commissioners Court persons to serve on the board. If the Commissioners Court finds any provision of Subsection (c) through (f) to be invalid, the TCEQ shall appoint the board from recommendations submitted by the preceding board. 

The bill becomes effective immediately with two-thirds vote of the members or on September 1, 2009.

1)     Population – The proposed district is in a county that is expected to have rapid growth in the near future and while the proposed Aliana Management District covers a rural area, development is anticipated.

Fort Bend County had a population of 354,452 in 2000 and is projected by the State Water Plan to grow to 490,072 in 2010 and to 630,624 in 2020.  The county-other population for Fort Bend County was 38,168 in 2000 and is expected to grow to 64,065 in 2010 and continue up to 120,315 in 2020.

2)     Location – The proposed district is located in eastern Fort Bend County, northeast of Richmond and northwest of Sugar Land.  While it is not possible to determine precise district boundaries, there is a potential overlap with the CCN boundaries of the Fort Bend County Municipal Utility District No. 52.

3) Comments on Powers/Duties Different from Similar Types of Districts-The District will have authority to impose taxes and issue bonds; exercise of powers of development corporation, sports venue, and economic development.

4)  Overlapping Services- The stated boundaries form an acceptable closure.  The district may overlap the following providers: Brazos River Authority, Fort Bend County Drainage District, Fort Bend County Fresh Water Supply District No. 2, and Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 7, Fort Bend County Municipal Utility Districts 111, 112, 134A, 134B, 134C, 25, 51, 52, 68, 69, and West Fort Bend Management District.

5)  TCEQ Supervision- As with general law districts, the TCEQ will have general supervisory authority, including bond review authority and review of financial reports.

6)  Water Use – Within Fort Bend County, 49.7 percent of the total water used was groundwater in 2004.  Around 79 percent of the groundwater used was for municipal purposes.  Groundwater is primarily pumped from the Gulf Coast Aquifer (96%), while the rest comes from the Brazos River Alluvium Aquifer.