By: Fraser S.B. No. 22
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the administration of the Texas Water Development
Board; making an appropriation from the economic stabilization fund
to finance certain water-related projects.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6.052(a), Water Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(a) The board is composed of three [six] members who are
appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
SECTION 2. Section 6.054(c), Water Code, is amended to read
as follows:
(c) If the executive administrator or a member has knowledge
that a potential ground for removal exists, the executive
administrator shall notify the chairman of the board of the
potential ground. The chairman of the board shall then notify the
governor and the attorney general that a potential ground for
removal exists. If the potential ground for removal includes the
chairman of the board, the executive administrator or another
member of the board shall notify the member [next highest ranking
officer] of the board with the most seniority, who shall then notify
the governor and the attorney general that a potential ground for
removal exists.
SECTION 3. Section 6.056, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 6.056. TERMS OF OFFICE. (a) The members of the board
hold office for staggered terms of six years, with the term [terms]
of one member [two members] expiring February 1 of each
odd-numbered year [every two years]. Each member holds office
until a [his] successor is appointed and has qualified.
(b) A person appointed to the board may not serve for more
than two six-year terms.
SECTION 4. Section 6.059, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 6.059. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD [OFFICERS]. [(a)] The
governor shall designate one member as chairman of the board to
serve at the will of the governor.
[(b) The members of the board shall elect a vice-chairman
every two years. The board shall fill a vacancy in the office of
vice-chairman for the remainder of the unexpired term.]
SECTION 5. Sections 6.060(a) and (b), Water Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The board shall hold regular meetings and all hearings
at times specified by a board order and entered in its minutes [meet
at least once every other month on a day and at a place within the
state selected by it, subject to recesses at the discretion of the
board]. The [chairman or two] board [members] may hold special
meetings at the times and places in the state that the board decides
are appropriate for the performance of its duties. The chairman of
the board or the board member acting for the chairman shall give the
other members reasonable notice before holding a special meeting
[call a special meeting at any time by giving notice to the other
members].
(b) The chairman [or in his absence the vice-chairman] shall
preside at all meetings of the board. The chairman may designate
another board member to act for the chairman in the chairman's
absence.
SECTION 6. Section 6.061, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 6.061. FULL-TIME SERVICE. Each member of the board
shall serve on a full-time basis. [COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. A
member is entitled to receive an amount as provided by the General
Appropriations Act for each day he serves in the performance of his
duties, together with travel and other necessary expenses.]
SECTION 7. Section 6.103, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 6.103. EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATOR. The board shall
appoint a person to be the executive administrator to serve at the
will of the board. The executive administrator shall report to the
chairman of the board.
SECTION 8. (a) If the state water implementation fund for
Texas is created by legislation enacted by the 83rd Legislature,
Regular Session, 2013, the amount of $2 billion is appropriated
from the economic stabilization fund to the comptroller for the
purpose of depositing that amount to the credit of the state water
implementation fund for Texas as money available for use by the
Texas Water Development Board for the purposes of the state water
implementation fund for Texas.
(b) If the state water implementation fund for Texas is not
created by legislation enacted by the 83rd Legislature, Regular
Session, 2013, the amount of $2 billion is appropriated from the
economic stabilization fund to the comptroller for the purpose of
depositing that amount to the credit of the Texas Water Development
Fund II as money available for use by the Texas Water Development
Board for the purposes of the Texas Water Development Fund II.
SECTION 9. (a) Not later than September 1, 2013, the
governor shall appoint the initial members of the Texas Water
Development Board under Section 6.052, Water Code, as amended by
this Act. In appointing the initial members of the board, the
governor shall appoint one person to a term expiring February 1,
2015, one to a term expiring February 1, 2017, and one to a term
expiring February 1, 2019.
(b) The terms of the current members of the board expire
September 1, 2013.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013, except
that Section 8 of this Act takes effect only if this Act receives a
vote of two-thirds of the members present in each house of the
legislature, as provided by Section 49-g(m), Article III, Texas
Constitution.