Current state law provides for the creation of certain conservation and reclamation districts that are, subject to certain requirements, authorized to incur debt and levy taxes in order to provide for certain services and projects. S.B. 1867 seeks to create a conservation and reclamation district in Travis County to be known as the Cascades Municipal Utility District No. 1.

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

S.B. 1867 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to create the Cascades Municipal Utility District No. 1, subject to voter approval at a confirmation election and municipal consent. The bill dissolves the district September 1, 2014, and sets the bill's provisions governing the district to expire on such date if a municipality in whose extraterritorial jurisdiction the district is located does not consent to the creation of the district or if the district does not enter into an agreement required by the terms of the municipal ordinance or resolution consenting to the creation of the district before such date.

S.B. 1867 grants the district the power to undertake certain road projects and provides for a certain strategic partnership agreement regarding the continuation of the district after annexation by a municipality and also provides for municipal annexation and notice. The bill authorizes the district, subject to certain requirements, to issue obligations and impose property, operation and maintenance, and contract taxes. The bill prohibits the district from exercising the power of eminent domain.

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.