AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
S.B. 1876 seeks to move the elections for the board of directors of the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District to the uniform election date in November of even-numbered years. Currently, regular elections for the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District must be held on the first Saturday in May. By changing the election to even-numbered years, the election will coincide with the November general election, thus increasing voter participation, and allow for a joint election with the county, thereby saving taxpayer funds.
As proposed, S.B. 1876 amends current law relating to the election of members of the board of directors of the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District.
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 11, Chapter 1343, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, as follows:
Sec. 11. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Requires the Pecan Valley Groundwater Conservation District (district), on the uniform election date in November of each even-numbered year, to hold an election in the district to elect the appropriate number of directors to the district's board of directors.
Deletes existing Subsection (a) requiring an election, on the first Saturday in May of the second year after the year in which the district is authorized to be created at a confirmation election, to be held in the district for the election of directors for Precincts One and Three.
Deletes existing Subsection (b) requiring an election, on the first Saturday in May of the fourth year after the year in which the district is authorized to be created at a confirmation election, to be held in the district for the election of directors for Precincts Two and Four and the at-large director.
Deletes existing Subsection (c) requiring the appropriate number of directors, on the first Saturday in May of each subsequent second year following the election under Subsection (b) of this section, to be elected.
SECTION 2. Repealer: Section 8(e) (relating to requiring four new directors, at the first election of the district after the county commissioners precincts are redrawn, to be elected to represent the precincts), Chapter 1343, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001.
SECTION 3. Requires a director on the board of the district (director) whose term is scheduled to expire in May 2013 to serve until the director's successor has qualified following the directors' election held on the uniform election date in November 2013. Requires a director whose term is scheduled to expire in May 2015 to serve until the director's successor has qualified following the directors' election held on the uniform election date in November 2014. Requires a director whose term is scheduled to expire in May 2017 to serve until the director's successor has qualified following the directors' election held on the uniform election date in November 2016.
SECTION 4. (a) Providing all governmental acts and proceedings of the district relating to the election of members of the board of directors of the district that were taken before the effective date of this Act are validated, ratified, and confirmed in all respects as if they had been taken as authorized by law.
(b) Provides that this section does not apply to any matter that on the effective date of this Act is involved in litigation if the litigation ultimately results in the matter being held invalid by a final court judgment, or has been held invalid by a final court judgment.
SECTION 5. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and the laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.
SECTION 6. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.