BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 512 By: Hegar Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, passed H.B. 2984, which required that in order to qualify for election as a supervisor of a fresh water supply district, a person must own land within the boundaries of a fresh water supply district and removed the requirement that the supervisor be a resident voter of the district. Previously only a resident voter could serve on the board of a fresh water supply district. Other similar districtswater control and improvement districts and municipal utility districtsrequire only that the director be a landowner within the district boundaries. During the interim, there was a voting rights challenge by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to H.B. 2984 and the creation of the freshwater supply district was not pre-cleared for election by DOJ. S.B. 512 would amend the language of H.B. 2984 to answer the concerns raised by DOJ. It would require that in order to qualify as a supervisor of a fresh water supply district, the person must either own taxable property in the district or be a registered voter of the district, thus removing any minority voting rights concerns. As proposed, S.B. 512 amends current law relating to the qualification of supervisors of a fresh water supply district. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 53.063(a), Water Code, as follows: (a) Provides that, except as provided by Subsection (b), to be qualified for election as a supervisor a person must be a resident of this state, the owner of taxable property in the district, and at least 18 years of age, or a person must to be a registered voter of the district. SECTION 2. Provides for the effective date of this Act. EFFECTIVE DATE This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
BILL ANALYSIS
S.B. 512
By: Hegar
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, passed H.B. 2984, which required that in order to qualify for election as a supervisor of a fresh water supply district, a person must own land within the boundaries of a fresh water supply district and removed the requirement that the supervisor be a resident voter of the district. Previously only a resident voter could serve on the board of a fresh water supply district. Other similar districtswater control and improvement districts and municipal utility districtsrequire only that the director be a landowner within the district boundaries.
During the interim, there was a voting rights challenge by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to H.B. 2984 and the creation of the freshwater supply district was not pre-cleared for election by DOJ.
S.B. 512 would amend the language of H.B. 2984 to answer the concerns raised by DOJ. It would require that in order to qualify as a supervisor of a fresh water supply district, the person must either own taxable property in the district or be a registered voter of the district, thus removing any minority voting rights concerns.
As proposed, S.B. 512 amends current law relating to the qualification of supervisors of a fresh water supply district.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 53.063(a), Water Code, as follows:
(a) Provides that, except as provided by Subsection (b), to be qualified for election as a supervisor a person must be a resident of this state, the owner of taxable property in the district, and at least 18 years of age, or a person must to be a registered voter of the district.
SECTION 2. Provides for the effective date of this Act.
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.