BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 1051

By: Kolkhorst

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The North Fort Bend Water Authority was created a decade ago for the purpose of delivering surface water to users within its boundaries and providing a groundwater reduction plan to achieve compliance with the Fort Bend Subsidence District regulations. S.B. 1051 revises the powers and duties of the authority to better serve the authority's goals and responsibilities.

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

S.B. 1051 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to prohibit territory from being annexed into or added to the North Fort Bend Water Authority that, at the time of annexation or addition, is located within the boundaries of both another regional water authority and a subsidence district. The bill establishes that the authority is not a special water authority for purposes of the Water Code.

S.B. 1051 replaces the requirement for the authority to provide each district or municipality within its boundaries information regarding the share of the capital costs to be paid by the district or municipality and provide each district or municipality the opportunity to fund its share of the capital costs with proceeds from the sale of bonds or fees and charges collected by the districts or municipalities with the authorization for the authority to provide that information and opportunity.

S.B. 1051 establishes that the authority retains all the rights, powers, privileges, authority, duties, and functions that it had before the bill's effective date and provides for the validation and confirmation of certain authority actions and proceedings taken before the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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