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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and functions of the Lake Houston |
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Watershed Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Water Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 9 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 9. LAKE HOUSTON WATERSHED COMMISSION |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 9.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. |
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(2) "Watershed commission" means the Lake Houston |
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Watershed Commission. |
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Sec. 9.0102. PURPOSE. The watershed commission is created |
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to provide the public with streamlined communication and |
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cooperation in flood control planning. |
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SUBCHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATION |
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Sec. 9.0201. WATERSHED COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP. (a) The |
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watershed commission is composed of the following voting watershed |
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commissioners: |
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(1) one member of the commissioners court of Harris |
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County, appointed by that court; |
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(2) one member of the commissioners court of Liberty |
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County, appointed by that court; |
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(3) one member of the commissioners court of |
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Montgomery County, appointed by that court; |
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(4) one person appointed by the city council of the |
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City of Houston; |
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(5) one person appointed by the city council of the |
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City of Humble; and |
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(6) one person appointed by the board of each |
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municipal utility district that borders Lake Houston. |
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(b) The San Jacinto River Authority and the Coastal Water |
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Authority each shall appoint a representative to serve as a |
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nonvoting commissioner of the watershed commission. |
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Sec. 9.0202. WATERSHED COMMISSION TERMS; VACANCY. (a) |
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Commissioners of the watershed commission serve staggered terms of |
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two years, with approximately equal numbers of commissioners' terms |
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expiring each year. |
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(b) Each appointing entity shall fill a vacancy on the |
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watershed commission for the unexpired term of a person appointed |
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by that entity by appointing a person who has the same |
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qualifications as required under Section 9.0201 for the person who |
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previously held the vacated position. |
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Sec. 9.0203. PRESIDING OFFICER. The watershed |
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commissioners shall select one commissioner as the presiding |
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officer of the watershed commission to serve in that capacity until |
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the person's term as a watershed commissioner expires. |
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Sec. 9.0204. WATERSHED COMMISSION STAFF. On request by the |
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watershed commission, the board shall provide any necessary staff |
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to assist the watershed commission in the performance of its |
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duties. |
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Sec. 9.0205. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) |
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The watershed commission may hold public meetings as needed to |
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fulfill its duties under this chapter. |
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(b) The watershed commission is subject to Chapters 551 and |
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552, Government Code. |
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Sec. 9.0206. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. (a) Commissioners |
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of the watershed commission serve without compensation but may be |
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reimbursed by legislative appropriation for actual and necessary |
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expenses related to the performance of watershed commission duties. |
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(b) Reimbursement under Subsection (a) is subject to the |
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approval of the presiding officer of the watershed commission. |
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Sec. 9.0207. MEETINGS. The watershed commission shall meet |
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quarterly. |
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SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES |
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Sec. 9.0301. POWERS AND DUTIES. The watershed commission |
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shall: |
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(1) engage in flood control planning in the watershed |
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of Lake Houston; |
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(2) facilitate the sharing of flood-related |
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information and maps between political subdivisions in the |
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watershed of Lake Houston; and |
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(3) publish information about the activities of the |
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watershed commission on an Internet website maintained by the |
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watershed commission. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2019, the |
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entities described by Section 9.0201, Water Code, as added by this |
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Act, shall appoint watershed commissioners to the Lake Houston |
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Watershed Commission. |
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(b) The Lake Houston Watershed Commission shall hold an |
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initial meeting in the first quarter of 2020. At the initial |
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meeting, the watershed commissioners shall draw lots to determine |
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which watershed commissioners serve a term of one year and which |
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watershed commissioners serve a term of two years. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |