By: Lucio S.B. No. 1422
(In the Senate - Filed March 12, 2015; March 18, 2015, read
first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
Relations; April 23, 2015, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 7, Nays 0;
April 23, 2015, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1422 By: Lucio
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an infrastructure improvement
council by the Rio Grande Regional Water Authority; providing
authority to impose a voluntary assessment.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1.01, Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, is amended by adding
Subdivision (4-b) to read as follows:
(4-b) "Council" means the council established under
Section 1B.01 of this Act.
SECTION 2. Chapter 385, Acts of the 78th Legislature,
Regular Session, 2003, is amended by adding Article IB to read as
follows:
ARTICLE IB. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL
Sec. 1B.01. INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL. (a) The
board shall establish an infrastructure improvement council in
connection with the implementation of infrastructure improvement
projects within the authority's territory.
(b) The board shall set, according to a formula determined
by the board, an annual voluntary assessment. Revenue from the
assessment imposed under this subsection shall be deposited to the
credit of an infrastructure improvement fund to be administered by
the council. After the board sets the formula used to determine the
assessment, the assessment may be modified only by the council.
(c) A member of the conference that pays the voluntary
assessment under Subsection (b) shall appoint a representative to
serve as a member of the council.
(d) The council may apply for financial assistance under
Subchapters G and H, Chapter 15, Water Code, and may implement
infrastructure improvement projects approved by the council under
this article.
(e) The council shall study the viability of each
infrastructure improvement project requested by council members to
determine whether an infrastructure improvement project is
eligible to receive financial assistance from the council.
(f) Only members of the council are eligible to receive
financial assistance from the council for infrastructure
improvement projects under this article.
(g) The council shall establish procedures to govern the
council.
(h) The council may:
(1) hire employees to implement this section; and
(2) engage in infrastructure improvement projects
without board approval.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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