BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1235

By: King, Phil

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note the need to add territory to the Wise County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1.  H.B. 1235 seeks to address this need.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1235 authorizes the board of directors of the Wise County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 to call an election in Wise County to authorize the district's annexation of all parts of Wise County that, on the bill's effective date, are not within the district's boundaries or the boundaries of another water control and improvement district. The bill authorizes the board to order the annexation and an election to approve the annexation based on a resolution of the board with or without a petition requesting the annexation but otherwise requires the annexation and election to conform to the requirements of statutory provisions relating to the adding of land to a district by petition of less than all the landowners. The bill requires the election ballot to be printed to provide for voting for or against the annexation of the territory and the assumption by the territory proposed to be annexed of its proportionate share of any outstanding debt of the district.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.