88R26313 SCP-D
 
  By: Bell of Kaufman H.B. No. 3881
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3881:
 
  By:  King of Uvalde C.S.H.B. No. 3881
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to board of directors meeting locations of certain rural
  area water districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 49.062, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b) and (b-1) and adding Subsections (b-2) and
  (b-3) to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-2) [(b-1)], the
  board shall designate one or more places inside or outside the
  district for conducting the meetings of the board.  The meeting
  place may be a private residence or office, provided that the board,
  in its order establishing the meeting place, declares the same to be
  a public place and invites the public to attend any meeting of the
  board.  If the board establishes a meeting place or places outside
  the district, it shall give notice of the location or locations by
  filing a true copy of the resolution establishing the location or
  locations of the meeting place or places and a justification of why
  the meeting will not be held in the district or within 10 miles of
  the boundary of the district, if applicable, with the commission
  and also by publishing notice of the location or locations in a
  newspaper of general circulation in the district.  If the location
  of any of the meeting places outside the district is changed, notice
  of the change shall be given in the same manner.
         (b-1)  In Subsections (b-2) and (b-3) [this subsection],
  "rural area district" means a district in which more than half of
  the district's projected retail water or sewer connections are
  active and that is:
               (1)  not wholly or partly located in a county that as of
  the 2020 [2010] Census:
                     (A)  had a population of 800,000 or more; or
                     (B)  bordered a county with a population of
  800,000 or more; or
               (2)  wholly or partly located in a county with a
  population of more than 144,000 and less than 148,000.
         (b-2)  Except as provided by Subsection (b-3), if [If] the
  board of a rural area district conducts meetings at least
  quarterly, the board shall conduct a meeting at a designated
  meeting location inside the district or within 10 miles of the
  boundary of the district at least once per quarter.  If the board
  determines that it is not practical to meet within 10 miles of the
  boundary of the district, the district may conduct the quarterly
  meeting at another designated meeting place in the county in which
  the district is located.
         (b-3)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, and
  except as provided by this subsection, a rural area district
  described by Subsection (b-1)(2) may satisfy the requirements of
  Subsection (b-2) by conducting quarterly meetings by telephone
  conference call or videoconference call.  A meeting to discuss the
  tax rate of the district must be conducted in person.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.