By: Oliveira (Senate Sponsor - Lucio) H.B. No. 3545

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 27, 2015; April 28, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental Relations; May 12, 2015, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0; May 12, 2015, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3545 By: Lucio

COMMITTEE VOTE

YeaNayAbsentPNV

LucioX

BettencourtX

CampbellX

GarciaX

MenéndezX

NicholsX

TaylorofGalvestonX

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an infrastructure improvement council by the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority; providing authority to impose a voluntary assessment.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1.01, Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended by adding Subdivision (4-b) to read as follows:

(4-b) "Council" means the council established under Section 1B.01 of this Act.

SECTION 2. Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended by adding Article IB to read as follows:

ARTICLE IB. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL

Sec. 1B.01. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL. (a) The board shall establish an infrastructure improvement council in connection with the implementation of infrastructure improvement projects within the authority's territory.

(b) The board shall set, according to a formula determined by the board, an annual voluntary assessment. Revenue from the assessment imposed under this subsection shall be deposited to the credit of an infrastructure improvement fund to be administered by the council. After the board sets the formula used to determine the assessment, the assessment may be modified only by the council.

(c) A member of the conference that pays the voluntary assessment under Subsection (b) shall appoint a representative to serve as a member of the council.

(d) The council may apply for financial assistance under Subchapters G and H, Chapter 15, Water Code, and may implement infrastructure improvement projects approved by the council under this article.

(e) The council shall study the viability of each infrastructure improvement project requested by council members to determine whether an infrastructure improvement project is eligible to receive financial assistance from the council.

(f) Only members of the council are eligible to receive financial assistance from the council for infrastructure improvement projects under this article.

(g) The council shall establish procedures to govern the council.

(h) The council may:

(1) hire employees to implement this section; and

(2) engage in infrastructure improvement projects without board approval.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

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