BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1555

By: Clardy

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Established in 1939, the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) monitors the portions of the Guadalupe River and its tributaries within Kerr County to protect the watershed from threats such as flooding, sedimentation, water pollution, and invasive species. Through its work with stakeholders and partners in Kerr County, UGRA is highly regarded in the community, with a reputation for leveraging its small staff to create meaningful improvements in the water quality of the Guadalupe River. While UGRA performs its operations well, the Sunset Advisory Commission found some areas where the authority could benefit from adopting good governance practices. H.B. 1555 seeks to implement those practices for UGRA and provide for its next sunset review in 2035.

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. 1555 amends Chapter 5, page 1062, Special Laws, Acts of the 46th Legislature, Regular Session, 1939, to provide for the next review of the Upper Guadalupe River Authority (UGRA) under the Texas Sunset Act to be conducted during the 2034-2035 sunset review cycle.

H.B. 1555 revises provisions governing UGRA to implement across-the-board Sunset Advisory Commission policy recommendations related to the following:

· gubernatorial designation of the presiding officer of the authority's board of directors;

· separation of the board's policy-making responsibilities and the staff's management responsibilities;

· specific grounds for removal of a board member;

· board member training;

· maintenance of complaint information; and

· public testimony at board meetings.

The bill provides for the transition to the new training requirements for current board members.

H.B. 1555 decreases the length of a board member's term from six years to four years and provides for the transition to this new term length. The bill requires the board to appoint a general manager.

H.B. 1555 repeals Section 7, Chapter 5, page 1062, Special Laws, Acts of the 46th Legislature, Regular Session, 1939.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.