BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 180

By: Lucio III

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties contend that it is redundant for the state auditor to audit the planning or management of a groundwater conservation district given the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's oversight of such districts. H.B. 180 seeks to address this issue by repealing a legislative audit review provision.

 

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. 180 amends the Water Code to change the type of audit the state auditor may conduct on a groundwater conservation district that the state auditor determines is necessary from an audit of a district's records to a financial audit of a district.

 

H.B. 180 repeals Section 36.302, Water Code, subjecting a groundwater conservation district to review by the state auditor under the direction of the legislative audit committee resulting in a determination of whether the district is actively engaged in achieving the objectives of the district's management plan and in appropriate action by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality if it is determined that the district is not operational.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.