BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 5693

By: Manuel

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 is one of three drainage districts located within Jefferson County and was established in 1946. The bill author has informed the committee that in May 2024, no commissioner for this district ran opposed and there was no need for an election. However, in preparation for a possible election, the district had begun evaluating costs to hold its own election, separate from the county. According to the district, an independent election would have cost the district between $100,000 and $150,000. By comparison, holding an election in a normal county election scenario, the district's cost would be approximately $30,000. H.B. 5693 seeks to save taxpayer funds that would otherwise be needed to hold separate elections by requiring elections of district commissioners to be held on the uniform election date in November of each odd-numbered year.

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. 5693 amends Section 4, Chapter 34, Acts of the 57th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, 1962, to replace the provision establishing that commissioners of the Jefferson County Drainage District No. 7 are elected in accordance with Water Code provisions regarding elections that apply to water districts generally with a requirement that the district hold an election on the uniform election date in November of each odd-numbered year to elect the appropriate number of commissioners. The bill specifies that the four-year terms that the commissioners serve are staggered terms.

Accordingly, H.B. 5693 provides the following:

· the district must hold an election to elect two commissioners on the uniform election date in November 2025;

· a commissioner serving on the board of commissioners of the district elected in May 2022 must serve until the commissioner's successor has qualified following the commissioners' election held on the uniform election date in November 2025, and the successor serves a four-year term;

· the district must hold an election to elect three commissioners on the uniform election date in November 2027; and

· a commissioner serving on the board of commissioners of the district elected in May 2024 must serve until the commissioner's successor has qualified following the commissioners' election held on the uniform election date in November 2027, and the successor serves a four-year term.

H.B. 5693 establishes that all applicable requirements relating to the following have been fulfilled and accomplished with respect to the bill:

· the legal notice of intention to introduce;

· governor action;

· Texas Commission on Environmental Quality recommendations; and

· the state constitution and laws and legislative rules and procedures.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.