AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
C.S.H.B. 3545 amends Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, to require the board of directors of the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority to establish an infrastructure improvement council in connection with the implementation of infrastructure improvement projects within the authority's territory. The bill requires the board to set, according to a formula determined by the board, an annual voluntary assessment and requires revenue from the assessment to be deposited to the credit of an infrastructure improvement fund to be administered by the council. The bill requires a member of the authority's member conference that pays the voluntary assessment to appoint a representative to serve as a member of the council. The bill authorizes the council to apply for financial assistance under Water Code provisions governing the state water implementation fund for Texas and the state water implementation revenue fund for Texas and to implement infrastructure improvement projects approved by the council. The bill requires the council to study the viability of each infrastructure improvement project requested by council members to determine whether an infrastructure improvement project is eligible to receive financial assistance from the council. The bill establishes that only council members are eligible to receive financial assistance from the council for infrastructure improvement projects under the bill's provisions.
C.S.H.B. 3545 amends current law relating to the establishment of an infrastructure improvement council by the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority and provides authority to impose a voluntary assessment.
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 1.01, Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, by adding Subdivision (4-b) to define "council."
SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, by adding Article IB, as follows:
ARTICLE IB. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
Sec. 1B.01. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL. (a) Requires the board of directors of the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority (board) to establish an infrastructure improvement council (council) in connection with the implementation of infrastructure improvement projects within the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority's territory.
(b) Requires the board to set, according to a formula determined by the board, an annual voluntary assessment. Requires that revenue from the assessment imposed under this subsection be deposited to the credit of an infrastructure improvement fund to be administered by the council. Provides that the assessment may be modified only by the council after the board sets the formula used to determine the assessment.
(c) Requires a member of the conference that pays the voluntary assessment under Subsection (b) to appoint a representative to serve as a member of the council.
(d) Authorizes the council to apply for financial assistance under Subchapters G (State Water Implementation Fund for Texas) and H (State Water Implementation Revenue Fund for Texas), Chapter 15, Water Code, and may implement infrastructure improvement projects approved by the council under this article.
(e) Requires the council to study the viability of each infrastructure improvement project requested by council members to determine whether an infrastructure improvement project is eligible to receive financial assistance from the council.
(f) Provides that only members of the council are eligible to receive financial assistance from the council for infrastructure improvement projects under this article.
(g) Requires the council to establish procedures to govern the council.
(h) Authorizes the council to:
(1) hire employees to implement this section; and
(2) engage in infrastructure improvement projects without board approval.
SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2015.