HBA-CBW H.B. 3640 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3640 By: Uher Natural Resources 4/10/2001 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas faces a difficult challenge in developing water policies that serve both state and regional interests. The Texas Constitution authorizes the creation of groundwater conservation districts to plan, develop, and regulate the use of water. House Bill 3640 creates the Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District, subject to approval at a confirmation election, to manage Matagorda County's groundwater resources. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3640 creates the Coastal Plains Groundwater Conservation District (district) in Matagorda County, subject to approval at a confirmation election (SECTIONS 1and 2). The bill provides that the district is governed by a board of seven directors and sets forth provisions regarding the composition and administration of the board and the election, qualifications, and terms of the directors. The bill designates the temporary directors of the board (SECTIONS 7-11). The bill sets forth provisions regarding regional cooperation and provisions regarding an election to confirm the establishment of the district (SECTIONS 6 and 10). To pay the maintenance and operating costs of the district and to pay any bonds or notes issued by the district, the bill authorizes the district to impose an ad valorem tax at a rate not to exceed 2.5 cents for each $100 of taxable value of property in the district, subject to voter approval, assess fees, and solicit and accept grants (SECTION 12). EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1 replaces temporary board member Bob Pennington with Deedy Huffman. Committee amendment No.2 replaces provisions regarding the election of four new directors after the county commissioners precincts are redrawn with provisions that require each director in office on the effective date of the change, or elected to a term of office beginning on or after the effective date of the change, to serve in the position to which each was elected for the entire term, even though the change in boundaries places the director's residence outside the precinct from which the director was elected.