BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2049

By: Nichols

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain that when the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District was created to regulate groundwater use within Montgomery County a provision was added to its enabling legislation exempting the district's board of directors from rules regarding conflicts of interest that are generally applicable to the boards of every special district and local government in the state. The parties claim that only two groundwater conservation districts in the state have this conflict of interest exemption and report that Montgomery County citizens want to ensure that the district conducts its business transparently and without the appearance of conflicts of interest. To that end, S.B. 2049 seeks to remove this exemption from the district's enabling legislation.

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. 2049 repeals Section 6(h), Chapter 1321, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, establishing that a person who qualifies to serve on the board of directors of the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District shall be qualified to serve as a director and participate in all votes relating to the business of the district and exempting the district from a statutory groundwater conservation district provision relating to conflicts of interest. The bill provides for the validation and confirmation of certain district actions and proceedings taken before the bill's effective date.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.