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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a water district to accept donations to |
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fund certain economic development programs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 49.2291 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 49.2291. DONATIONS FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. (a) In |
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this section, "economic development program" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 152.151. |
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(b) This section applies only to a district located in the |
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unincorporated area of a county with a population of four million or |
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more. |
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(c) A district may accept a donation in any form from any |
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source approved by the board to provide funds to a nonprofit |
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organization providing the district with economic development |
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programs that the board determines will preserve property values in |
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the district. |
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(d) A district shall contract with a nonprofit organization |
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providing economic development programs in the district to describe |
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the specific uses of a donation collected on behalf of the nonprofit |
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organization under this section. |
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(e) A contract entered into under Subsection (d) must |
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require the nonprofit organization administering the program to: |
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(1) maintain accounting records and funds independent |
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of all other funds unrelated to the program; |
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(2) make the records maintained under Subdivision (1) |
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available for public inspection at reasonable times; and |
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(3) have an annual independent audit made of the |
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accounting records and funds. |
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(f) All records of the administrator of an economic |
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development program, unless protected from disclosure under |
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Chapter 552, Government Code, shall be public information, as |
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defined by Section 552.002, Government Code. |
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(g) A district providing potable water or sewer service may, |
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as part of its billing process, collect from customers a voluntary |
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contribution on behalf of a nonprofit organization providing |
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economic development programs in the district. A district that |
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collects a voluntary contribution under this subsection must give |
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reasonable notice to customers that the contribution is voluntary. |
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Water and sewer service may not be terminated as a result of failing |
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to pay the voluntary contribution. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |