BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1117
	By: Kolkhorst
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	6/8/2021
	Enrolled

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Statement of Purpose

Increasing the geographic representation on the board of directors of the Fort Bend Subsidence District (district).

Background

Fulshear is a fast-growing community in northwest Fort Bend County. The district regulates the withdrawal of groundwater within the district to prevent subsidence that contributes to flooding and infrastructure damages. Six other municipalities in Fort Bend County are able to name a director. S.B. 1117 simply gives Fulshear the same treatment as Houston, Missouri City, Stafford, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, and Richmond.

Key Provisions

• increases the size of the board of the district from 15 to 17 directors;
• adds Fulshear to the list of cities whose mayor shall appoint a director to the district; and
• changes the number of staggered members appointed from municipalities that serve from January 1 of even-numbered years from one to two.

(Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

S.B. 1117 amends current law relating to the composition of the board of directors of the Fort Bend Subsidence District, including a director's qualifications and term.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 8834.051, Special District Local Laws Code, by amending Subsections (a), (e), and (i) and adding Subsection (g-1), as follows:

(a) Provides that the Fort Bend Subsidence District (district) is governed by a board of 17 directors, rather than 15 directors, appointed as provided by Section 8834.051 (Directors).

(e) Requires the mayor of each of certain municipalities to appoint a director from the mayor's respective municipality, including Fulshear. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

(g-1) Requires the mayors described by Subsections (e) and (g) (relating to requiring the mayors of Fort Bend County municipalities other than those listed in Subsection (e) to appoint one director jointly) jointly to appoint one director who represents the district at large.

(i) Requires the directors to serve staggered terms as follows:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision; and

(2) two members, rather than one member, appointed under Subsection (e), two members appointed under Subsection (f) (relating to requiring the Commissioners Court of Fort Bend County to appoint certain directors, including one director who represents the district at large), one member appointed under Subsection (g), one member appointed under Subsection (g-1), and two members appointed under Subsection (h) (relating to requiring the board of directors of the North Fort Bend Water Authority to appoint two directors) are required to serve terms expiring on January 1 of even-numbered years.

SECTION 2. Requires the appropriate appointing authorities, not later than November 1, 2021, to appoint members of the board of directors of the district as provided by Section 8834.051, Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act.

SECTION 3. Provides that the district retains all the rights, powers, privileges, authority, duties, and functions that it had before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 4. Provides that all requirements of the constitution and laws of this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled and accomplished.

SECTION 5. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.