BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3607

By: Alvarado

Special Purpose Districts

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Certain new districts may be created through legislation passed by the state legislature or through an application process with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). There are concerns about the lack of direct notice to the state senator and state representative representing an area within which a district may be created if an application is submitted to TCEQ. H.B. 3607 seeks to ensure that notification is given to those officials who represent the area in question when a new district or a district with extended road powers is created through TCEQ.

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. 3607 amends the Water Code to require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), on receiving an application for the creation of a certain district by TCEQ, to send notice of the application to the state senator and state representative who represent the area in which the district is or will be located. The bill requires TCEQ, if TCEQ approves a petition for a municipal utility district to acquire road powers, to notify the state senator and state representative who represent the area in which the district is located.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.