BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 1732

82R1823 SMH-F

By: Ritter (Hinojosa)

 

Finance

 

5/17/2011

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The bill would require the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to certify to the Bond Review Board (BRB) the source of debt service on a proposed issuance of bonds by TWDB.  The bill would require BRB to determine the portion of debt service that is to be paid from the General Revenue and subsequently what portion of the debt would be included in the constitutional debt limit (CDL) calculation. The bill provides a mechanism for BRB to remove previous issuances of TWDB from the CDL if the previous issuance meets certain criteria.

 

Based on the analysis of TWDB, BRB, and the Office of the Attorney General, any anticipated additional work that would result from the passage of the bill could be reasonably absorbed within current resources.

 

H.B. 1732 amends current law relating to the applicability of the constitutional limit on state debt payable from the general revenues of the state to bonds issued by the Texas Water Development Board.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 17.003, Water Code, by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e), as follows:

 

(c)  Requires the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development Board (TPWD), in requesting approval for the issuance of bonds under this chapter, to certify to the bond review board the debt service on the bonds that is reasonably expected to be paid from the general revenues of the state, and revenue sources other than the general revenues of the state.

 

(d)  Requires the bond review board to determine the portion of the debt service on bonds to be issued by TWPD under this chapter that is state debt payable from the general revenues of the state, in accordance with the findings made by TPWD in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds and the certification provided by the executive administrator under Subsection (c).

 

(e)  Requires bonds issued under this chapter that are designed to be paid from the general revenues of the state to cease to be considered bonds payable from those revenues if:

 

(1)  the bonds are backed by insurance or another form of guarantee that ensures payment from a source other than the general revenues of the state; or

 

(2)  TPWD demonstrates to the satisfaction of the bond review board that the bonds no longer require payment from the general revenues of the state and the bond review board so certifies to the Legislative Budget Board.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2011.