By: Creighton S.B. No. 2521
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the powers, authorities, duties, and responsibilities
  of water districts.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 57.059, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 57.059.  QUALIFICATIONS FOR [ELECTED] DIRECTORS. To be
  qualified [for election] as a director, a person must be at least 18
  years old, either own land subject to taxation in the district or be 
  a qualified voter within the district, [property taxpaying elector
  of the precinct and county from which he is elected] and, in the
  case of an elected director, be a qualified voter within the
  precinct within the district established by the commissioners court
  in accordance with Section 57.058 [eligible under the constitution
  and laws of this state to hold the office to which he is elected].
         SECTION 2.  Section 57.053, Water Code, is amended by
  amending subsection (a) and adding subsection (d) to read as
  follows:
         (a)  A vacancy on an appointed board is filled by the
  appointment of a director by a majority vote of the commissioners
  court. [A director appointed to fill a vacancy must be a person
  qualified for election as a director under Section 57.059.] The
  commissioners court shall appoint directors so that the board will
  always have full membership.
         (d)  A director appointed to fill a vacancy must be a person
  qualified as a director under Section 57.059.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter J, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 49.316, Water Code, to read as follows:
         Sec. 49.316.  DIVISION OF DISTRICT. (a) The board, on its
  own motion or on receipt of a petition signed by the owner or owners
  of a majority of the assessed value of the real property in the
  district, may adopt an order dividing the district.
         (b)  An order dividing a district may create one or more new
  districts and may provide for the continuation of the district.
         (c)  An order dividing the district shall:
               (1)  name any new district;
               (2)  include the metes and bounds description of the
  territory of each of the districts;
               (3)  appoint temporary directors for any new district;
  and
               (4)  provide for the division of assets and liabilities
  between the districts.
         (d)  The board may adopt an order dividing the district
  before or after the date the board holds an election to confirm the
  district's creation.
         (e)  The district may be divided only if the district:
               (1)  has never issued any bonds; and
               (2)  is not imposing ad valorem taxes.
         (f)  A new district created by the division of the district
  may not, at the time the new district is created, contain any land
  outside the area of the district at the time of creation.
         (g)  On or before the 30th day after the date of adoption of
  an order dividing the district, the district shall file the order
  with the commission and record the order in the real property
  records of each county in which the district is located.
         (h)  A new district created by the division of the district
  shall hold a confirmation and directors' election.
         (j)  If the creation of a new district is confirmed, the new
  district shall provide the election date and results to the
  commission.
         (k)  Any new district created by the division of the district
  must hold an election as required by this chapter to obtain voter
  approval before the district may impose a maintenance tax or issue
  bonds payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes.
         (l)  The district may continue to rely on confirmation,
  directors', bond, and tax elections held prior to the division.
         (m)  Municipal consent to the creation of the district and to
  the inclusion of land in the district acts as municipal consent to
  the creation of any new district created by the division of the
  district and to the inclusion of land in the new district.
         SECTION 4.  Subsection 49.011(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  On receipt by the commission of all required
  documentation associated with an application for creation of a
  district by the commission under Chapter 36, 50, 51, 54, 55, 58, 65,
  or 66, or Chapter 375, Local Government Code, the commission shall
  issue a notice indicating that the application is administratively
  complete.
         SECTION 5.  Section 49.060, Water Code, is amended by
  amending subsections (a) and (a-1) and adding subsections (a-2) and
  (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a)  A director is entitled to receive fees of office [of not
  more than $150 a day] for each day the director actually spends
  performing the duties of a director. The daily fee of office shall
  be set by resolution of the board and may not be more than the
  legislative per diem as set by the Texas Ethics Commission.  In this
  subsection, "performing the duties of a director" means substantive
  performance of the management or business of the district,
  including participation in board and committee meetings and other
  activities involving the substantive deliberation of district
  business and in pertinent educational programs. The phrase does
  not include routine or ministerial activities such as the execution
  of documents, self-preparation for meetings, or other activities
  requiring a minimal amount of time.
         (a-2)  Notwithstanding subsection (a-1), an authority
  created by special law that implements a groundwater reduction plan
  and is a wholesale water supplier may not set the annual limit at an
  amount greater than the amount that would be produced by 60 days of
  service per year at the maximum daily rate.
         SECTION 6.  Subsection 49.065 is amended by adding
  subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  Subsection (b) does not apply to a personal email
  address of a director. In this subsection, a "personal email
  address" means an email address not paid for by public funds and not
  primarily used in the transaction of official business as long as an
  official email address is made publicly available for the director
  or for the governmental body.
         SECTION 7.  Section 49.102, Water Code, is amended by
  amending subsection (j) and by adding subsection (k) to read as
  follows:
         (j)  The provisions of this section requiring a confirmation
  election shall not be applicable to any district exercising the
  powers of Chapter 375, Local Government Code, or any district
  created by a special Act of the legislature that does not require a
  confirmation election.
         (k)  The board shall consider the conduct and administration
  of the confirmation election and the other district elections held
  on the same date. If the board determines that it is in the best
  interest of the district and voters of the district for the district
  to administer the elections, the district shall establish precincts
  and designate polling locations inside the district's boundaries,
  notwithstanding any other law.
         SECTION 8.  Section 49.106, Water Code, is amended to add
  subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  The board may submit new money bond authorization and
  refunding bond authorization in a single proposition at an
  election.
         SECTION 9.  Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 49.2225 to read as follows:
         Sec. 49.2225.  LIMITATION ON USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN. A
  district operating under Chapters 51, 53, and 54 may not exercise
  the power of eminent domain outside the district boundaries to
  acquire:
               (1)  a site for a water treatment plant or a wastewater
  treatment plant, unless the engineer for the district makes a
  recommendation, based on the engineer's professional judgment, to
  acquire the site;
               (2)  a site for a park or recreational facility, as
  defined by Section 49.462;
               (3)  an exclusive easement through a county regional
  park; or
               (4)  a site, right of way, or easement for a road
  project.
         SECTION 10.  Section 49.23602, Water Code, is amended by
  adding subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  An election under subsection (c) is not required if
  the adopted tax rate is less than or equal to the voter-approval tax
  rate.
         SECTION 11.  Subchapter O, Chapter 51, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.7131 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.7131.  ALTERNATIVE SUBSTITUTION PROCEDURES. In the
  alternative to the provisions of this subchapter for the
  substitution of land within the district, a district may substitute
  land in the manner provided by Sections 54.739 through 54.747,
  Water Code. 
         SECTION 12.  Section 51.714, Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 51.714.  ADDING LAND BY PETITION OF LANDOWNER. The
  owner of land may file with the board a petition requesting that the
  land described by metes and bounds in the petition be included in
  the district. Notwithstanding any municipal ordinance, resolution,
  or any other statute to the contrary, a municipality may not require
  the annexing district or the landowner who is requesting annexation
  to obtain the municipality's consent to the district's annexation
  of the additional land if, at the time the petition is filed, the
  land to be annexed is contiguous to the district and at any time
  within the preceding 12 months was not located within an area
  designated by ordinance or resolution of the municipality's
  governing body as the municipality's water and sewer service area
  or corporate limits, and the district has not previously issued any
  bonded indebtedness. The land shall be deemed to be contiguous to
  the district if it is separated from the district by public land or
  right of way. A district may not increase its total land area by
  more than 100 percent in any one calendar year under this section. A
  municipality's consent shall not be required for the inclusion or
  annexation of irrigable land within the boundaries of a district
  primarily engaged in providing irrigation service to lands within
  its boundaries.
         SECTION 13.  Section 54.728, Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 54.728.  CONSOLIDATION OF DISTRICTS. (a) Two or more
  districts governed by the provisions of this chapter may
  consolidate into one district as provided by Sections 54.729-54.733
  of this code.
         (b)  One or more districts governed by the provisions of this
  chapter and one or more districts governed by the provisions of
  Chapter 375, Local Government Code, may consolidate into one
  district as provided by this subsection and Sections 54.729- 54.733
  of this code. Directors of the consolidated district shall be
  elected and serve terms as provided by Section 49.103. The
  consolidation agreement may provide that the consolidated district
  continue operating with the powers, authorities, duties, and
  responsibilities of one of the original districts prior to
  consolidation.
         SECTION 14.  Section 375.022, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
         (d)  A petition may request that succeeding boards be elected
  under Section 375.0645 rather than be appointed under Section
  375.064.
         (e)  The commission shall give notice of an application as
  required by Section 49.011, Water Code, and may conduct a hearing on
  the application if the commission determines that a hearing is
  necessary under Section 49.011, Water Code.
         SECTION 15.  Subsection 375.025(c), Local Government Code is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  If [after the hearing] the commission finds that the
  petition is sufficient and conforms to the requirements of Section
  375,022(c) and that the district is feasible [and necessary] and
  would benefit the public, the commission by order shall make that
  finding and grant the petition. In determining if the project is
  feasible [and necessary] and would benefit the public, the
  commission shall consider:
               (1)  the availability of comparable services from other
  systems, including special districts, municipalities, and regional
  authorities; and
               (2)  the reasonableness of the proposed public purpose
  projects and services.
         SECTION 16.  Subchapter D, Chapter 375, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 375.0645 to read as follows:
         Sec. 375.0645.  ELECTED DIRECTORS. (a) This section
  applies to a district created by order of the commission providing
  for an elected board of directors as requested in the petition of
  the landowner under Section 375.022.
         (b)  The commission shall appoint the initial directors.
         (c)  Subsequent directors shall be elected in the manner
  provided by Subchapter D, Chapter 49, Water Code.
         (d)  A director is entitled to receive fees of office and
  reimbursement for actual expenses as provided by Section 49.060,
  Water Code. Sections 375.069 and 375.070 do not apply to the board.
         (e)  Subsection 49.052(f), Water Code, does not exempt a
  director from disqualification under Section 49.052, Water Code.
         (f)  Sections 375.064, 375.161 and 375.243 do not apply to
  the district.
         SECTION 17.  Section 375.065, Local Government Code is
  amended to read as follows: REMOVAL OF DIRECTOR. The governing
  body of the municipality after notice and hearing may remove a
  director appointed by that municipality for misconduct or failure
  to carry out the director's duties on petition by a majority of the
  remaining directors.
         SECTION 18.  Section 375.071, Local Government Code is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  One-half of the serving directors constitutes a quorum,
  and a concurrence of a majority of a quorum of directors is required
  for any official action of the district.
         (b)  The written consent of at least two-thirds of the
  directors is required to authorize the levy of assessments, the
  levy of taxes, the imposition of impact fees, or the issuance of
  bonds, which may be authorized by a simple majority of a quorum at a
  board meeting. A director who was not present at a board meeting
  may execute a written consent outside of a board meeting.
         SECTION 19.  Subsection 375.161(b), Local Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  This section does not apply to a tax or assessment, if a
  tax is authorized or approved by the voters of the district, or a
  required payment for a service provided by the district, including
  water and sewer services.
         SECTION 20.  Section 375.208, Local Government Code is
  amended to read as follows:
         A district must obtain approval of the commission to issue
  bonds as provided by Section 49.181, [Chapter 54,] Water Code, if
  the [it issues] bonds are to provide water, sewage, or drainage
  facilities. [Except as expressly provided by this section and
  Sections 375.062 and 375.064, a district is not subject to the
  jurisdiction of the commission.]
         SECTION 21.  The following sections are repealed:
         (a)  Sections 375.023 and 375.024 and Subsections 375.025(a)
  and (b), Local Government Code;
         (b)  Subsection 54.030(b), as amended by Acts 2019, 86th
  Leg., R.S., Ch. 539 (H.B. 2914), Sec. 2;
         (c)  Subsection 54.032(a), as amended by Acts 2019, 86th
  Leg., R.S., Ch. 539 (H.B. 2914), Sec. 3;
         (d)  Subsection 54.033(a), as amended by Acts 2019, 86th
  Leg., R.S., Ch. 539 (H.B. 2914), Sec. 4;
         (e)  Section 54.103, Water Code; and
         (f)  Section 54.209.
         SECTION 22.  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  shall evaluate the economic feasibility of bonds issued by water
  districts in whole or in part in (i) Chambers, Liberty, Walker,
  Grimes, Brazos, Austin, and Wharton counties the same as the bonds
  issued by water districts in Harris County; (ii) Grayson, Wise,
  Parker, Hood, Johnson, Ellis, and Hunt counties the same as the
  bonds issued by water districts in Dallas County; (iii) Caldwell,
  Bastrop, Lee, Milam, Bell, Burnet, Blanco, Gillespie, and Kendall
  counties the same as the bonds issued by water districts in Travis
  County.
         SECTION 23.  (a) Section 9 of this Act adding Section
  49.2225, Water Code, as it applies to districts governed by
  Chapters 51 and 53, Water Code, takes effect December 31, 2024, and
  as it applies to districts governed by Chapter 54, Water Code, takes
  effect September 1, 2023.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this Act takes
  effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the
  members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article
  III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote
  necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1,
  2023.