BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4177

By: Price

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The board of directors for the award-winning North Plains Groundwater Conservation District would like to move the district's election date to reduce election costs and give more stakeholders the opportunity to vote. By holding these elections in November rather than May, the board predicts a higher number of votes will be cast due to the increase in voter turnout during the general election. H.B. 4177 seeks to provide for such a change.

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. 4177 amends Chapter 498, Acts of the 54th Legislature, Regular Session, 1955, to remove the specification that the directors' election of the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District held on a uniform election date in each even-numbered year be held on the uniform election date in May. The bill requires the board of directors of the district, if the board changes the election date, to adjust the terms of office to conform to the new election date and to certain state constitutional requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.