By: Zaffirini, Campbell S.B. No. 1198
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the conversion of the Hays Caldwell Public Utility
Agency to the Alliance Regional Water Authority; providing
authority to issue bonds; granting the power of eminent domain;
providing authority to impose fees.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) The Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency is
converted to a conservation and reclamation district to be known as
the Alliance Regional Water Authority located in Bexar, Caldwell,
Comal, Guadalupe, and Hays Counties.
(b) The Alliance Regional Water Authority is not required to
hold an election to confirm the creation of the authority.
SECTION 2. Subtitle X, Title 6, Special District Local Laws
Code, is amended by adding Chapter 11010 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 11010. ALLIANCE REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 11010.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Authority" means the Alliance Regional Water
Authority.
(2) "Board" means the board of directors of the
authority.
(3) "Director" means a member of the board.
(4) "District" means any district or authority created
under Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas
Constitution, regardless of the manner of creation.
(5) "Local government" means:
(A) a municipality, county, district, or other
political subdivision of this state;
(B) a local government corporation;
(C) a nonprofit corporation created to act on
behalf of a local government; or
(D) a combination of two or more of the entities
described by this subdivision.
(6) "Private entity" includes an individual,
corporation, organization, business trust, estate, trust,
partnership, and association and any other legal entity that is not
a governmental body or agency.
(7) "Sponsor" means:
(A) the City of Kyle;
(B) the City of San Marcos;
(C) the City of Buda;
(D) the Canyon Regional Water Authority; and
(E) any other local government or private entity
added to the authority as a sponsor under Section 11010.005.
(8) "Water" includes:
(A) groundwater, percolating or otherwise,
notwithstanding the quality of the groundwater;
(B) any surface water, naturally or artificially
impounded or in a navigable or nonnavigable watercourse; and
(C) municipal wastewater or industrial
wastewater, including municipal wastewater or industrial
wastewater that has been treated to a quality suitable for reuse for
a beneficial use.
Sec. 11010.002. NATURE OF AUTHORITY. The authority is a
regional water authority in Bexar, Caldwell, Comal, Guadalupe, and
Hays Counties created under and essential to accomplish the
purposes of Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
Sec. 11010.003. FINDINGS OF PUBLIC PURPOSE AND BENEFIT.
(a) The authority is created to serve a public use and benefit.
(b) All land and other property included in the territory of
the authority will benefit from the works and projects to be
accomplished by the authority under powers conferred by Section 59,
Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and powers granted under this
chapter.
Sec. 11010.004. AUTHORITY TERRITORY. (a) The authority is
composed of the territory:
(1) of the sponsors, including territory within the
municipal boundaries of a sponsor that is a municipality;
(2) located in the service areas of the sponsors as
provided by the sponsors' respective certificates of convenience
and necessity; and
(3) added to and not excluded from the authority in
accordance with applicable law.
(b) Territory added to the authority may be in a county
other than a county listed in Section 11010.002.
Sec. 11010.005. METHOD OF ADDING SPONSORS. (a) The
governing body of a local government or a private entity, including
a water supply corporation, may petition the board to add that local
government or private entity as a sponsor.
(b) A petition under Subsection (a) must be submitted in the
manner and form required by board rule.
(c) On receipt of a petition under Subsection (a), the board
shall set a hearing on the petition and provide notice of the date,
time, place, and purpose of the hearing to:
(1) the sponsors of the authority; and
(2) the petitioning local government or private
entity.
(d) At the hearing, the board shall make a determination on
whether:
(1) the local government or private entity will
benefit from being added to the authority as a sponsor; and
(2) it is in the best interest of the authority to add
the local government or private entity to the authority as a
sponsor.
(e) If, after a hearing on the petition, the board decides
that the local government or private entity should be added to the
authority as a sponsor, the board shall issue an order:
(1) adding the local government or private entity to
the authority;
(2) adding the local government's or private entity's
territory or service area to the territory of the authority; and
(3) making the local government's or private entity's
territory or service area subject to the privileges, duties,
assets, and financial obligations of the authority to the same
degree as other sponsors already included in the authority.
(f) After the addition of a sponsor to the authority, the
board shall adopt rules that reapportion the directors of the
authority among the sponsors in accordance with the rules adopted
under Section 11010.051(c)(2) and may increase or decrease the
number of directors on the board within the range provided by
Section 11010.051(a).
Sec. 11010.006. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This
chapter shall be liberally construed to effect its purposes.
SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Sec. 11010.051. DIRECTORS. (a) The authority is governed
by a board of directors consisting of at least 7 and not more than 17
members.
(b) The board is responsible for the management, operation,
and control of the authority.
(c) The board shall adopt rules that:
(1) establish the number of directors of the
authority; and
(2) determine the apportionment of directors for each
sponsor based on the amount of water contracted to be supplied to
the sponsor under the terms of the authority's water supply
contract with the sponsor.
Sec. 11010.052. ELIGIBILITY TO SERVE AS DIRECTOR. (a) To
be eligible to serve as a director, a person must be:
(1) at least 18 years of age; and
(2) a resident of the territory located in the
authority or an employee of a sponsor.
(b) A director who also serves on the governing body of a
sponsor is not a dual officeholder and is not prohibited by the
common law doctrine of incompatibility from serving on both the
board and the governing body.
(c) Service on the board by a public officeholder is an
additional duty of that person's office.
Sec. 11010.053. APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS. (a) Each
sponsor is entitled to appoint at least one director.
(b) Each director must be appointed by the governing body of
a sponsor in accordance with the rules adopted under Section
11010.051 that govern the apportionment of directors among the
sponsors.
(c) Directors must be appointed not earlier than April 1 and
not later than April 30 of each year.
Sec. 11010.054. TERMS OF OFFICE. (a) Directors serve
staggered three-year terms, with one-third or as near as possible
to one-third of the members' terms expiring April 30 of each year.
(b) A director's term begins on May 1 of the year the
director is appointed.
(c) A director may not serve more than five consecutive
terms as a director.
Sec. 11010.055. REMOVAL OF DIRECTOR. A sponsor that
appoints a director may remove the director from office at any time,
with or without cause.
Sec. 11010.056. BOARD VACANCY. If there is a vacancy on the
board, the governing body of the sponsor that appointed the
director who vacated the office shall appoint a director to serve
the remainder of the term.
Sec. 11010.057. VOTING AUTHORITY. Each director is
entitled to one vote on any issue before the board.
Sec. 11010.058. OFFICERS. At the first meeting of the board
after May 1 of each year, the board shall elect officers for the
authority, including a chair, vice chair, secretary, and treasurer.
Sec. 11010.059. MEETINGS AND ACTIONS OF BOARD; QUORUM.
(a) The board may meet as many times each year as the board
considers appropriate.
(b) A majority of the membership of the board constitutes a
quorum at a meeting of the board.
(c) A concurrence of a majority of the directors present and
voting is sufficient for transacting any business of the authority
unless other applicable law, or the authority by rule, requires a
concurrence of a greater number of directors for a specific type of
decision.
(d) Directors of the authority are public officials and are
entitled to governmental immunity for their actions in their
capacity as directors and officers of the authority.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 11010.101. GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. (a) The
authority may:
(1) acquire, purchase, own, hold, lease, construct,
improve, and maintain a reservoir, groundwater well, or other
source of water supply, including:
(A) groundwater, surface water, and wastewater
reused directly or indirectly; and
(B) aquifer storage and recovery facilities;
(2) acquire, own, construct, operate, repair,
improve, maintain, or extend, inside or outside the authority's
boundaries, water and wastewater works, improvements, facilities,
plants, pipelines, equipment, and appliances for:
(A) the treatment and transportation of water and
wastewater;
(B) the direct or indirect reuse of wastewater;
(C) aquifer storage and recovery projects; and
(D) the provision of wholesale water and
wastewater services to authority customers, municipalities,
districts, water supply corporations, and other persons in this
state;
(3) acquire, purchase, own, hold, lease, and maintain
interests, including capacity rights and other contractual rights,
in sources of water supply, reservoirs, groundwater wells, water
and wastewater systems, treatment works, improvements, facilities,
plants, equipment, appliances, aquifer storage and recovery
projects, and the direct or indirect reuse of wastewater;
(4) finance any purchase or acquisition through a
bond, note, or other obligation under Subchapter E, or through a
lease-purchase agreement; and
(5) sell, lease, convey, or otherwise dispose of any
right, interest, or property the authority considers to be
unnecessary for the efficient operation or maintenance of the
authority's facilities.
(b) In addition to the powers specifically provided by this
chapter, the authority may exercise the powers provided by Section
65.201, Water Code.
Sec. 11010.102. AUTHORITY POLICIES, RULES, AND BYLAWS. The
authority may adopt and enforce policies, rules, and bylaws
reasonably required to implement this chapter, including rules
governing procedures before the board and rules regarding
implementation, enforcement, and any other matters related to the
exercise of the rights, powers, privileges, and functions conferred
on the authority by this chapter for the provision of water and
wastewater service.
Sec. 11010.103. EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) The authority may
exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire a fee simple or
other interest in property if the interest is necessary for the
authority to exercise the rights or authority conferred by this
chapter.
(b) The authority shall exercise the right of eminent domain
in the manner provided by Chapter 21, Property Code. The authority
is not required to give bond for appeal or bond for costs in a
condemnation suit or other suit to which it is a party.
(c) The authority may not use the power of eminent domain
for the condemnation of land for the purpose of acquiring rights to
groundwater or for the purpose of acquiring water or water rights.
Sec. 11010.104. WATER CONSERVATION OR DROUGHT CONTINGENCY
PLANS. The authority by rule may develop, prepare, revise, adopt,
implement, enforce, and manage water conservation or drought
contingency plans for the authority or any portion of the
authority.
Sec. 11010.105. SPONSOR CONVEYANCES AND ACQUISITIONS.
(a) In this section, "utility system" has the meaning assigned by
Section 1502.001, Government Code.
(b) A sponsor may convey a utility system facility or asset
or the sponsor's interest in a utility system facility or asset to
the authority without holding an election to approve the
conveyance.
(c) A sponsor is exempt from the provisions of Chapter 1502,
Government Code, regarding the conveyance, sale, or acquisition of
a utility system, or any related works, improvements, facilities,
plants, equipment, or appliances.
Sec. 11010.106. CONTRACTS. (a) The authority may contract
with any person to carry out a power authorized by this chapter.
(b) A person who enters into a contract with the authority
may pledge to the payment of the contract any source of revenue that
may be available to the person, including ad valorem taxes, if the
person has the authority to impose those taxes.
(c) Payments made under a contract with the authority
constitute an operating expense of the person served under the
contract, unless otherwise prohibited by a previously outstanding
obligation of the person. To the extent a person pledges funds to
the payment of the contract that are to be derived from the person's
own water system, the payments constitute an operating expense of
that system.
Sec. 11010.107. COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS. The authority may
enter into an interlocal contract with a local government under
Chapter 791, Government Code, to carry out a power of the authority.
Sec. 11010.108. RATES AND FEES. (a) The authority shall
establish rates and fees to be assessed against sponsors and
customers of the authority. The rates and fees may be established
by classes of customers, by project, or by area of service.
(b) A sponsor, local government, water supply corporation,
private entity, or other person that contracts with the authority
shall establish, charge, and collect fees, rates, charges, rentals,
and other amounts for any service or facility provided under or in
connection with a contract with the authority and shall pledge
sufficient amounts to make all payments required under the
contract.
SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 11010.151. AD VALOREM TAXES PROHIBITED. The authority
may not impose an ad valorem tax.
Sec. 11010.152. GIFTS, GRANTS, LOANS, AND OTHER FUNDS. The
authority may apply for, accept, receive, and administer gifts,
grants, loans, and other funds available from any source.
SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS, NOTES, AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
Sec. 11010.201. REVENUE BONDS, NOTES, AND OTHER
OBLIGATIONS. (a) In addition to bonds, notes, and other
obligations that the authority is authorized to issue under other
law, to accomplish the purposes of the authority, the authority may
issue bonds, notes, or other obligations payable solely from and
secured by all or part of any funds or any revenue from any source or
sources, including:
(1) fees, rates, and other charges the authority
imposes or collects;
(2) the sale of:
(A) water;
(B) water or wastewater services;
(C) water rights or capacity;
(D) water transmission rights, capacity, or
services;
(E) water pumping;
(F) wastewater reused directly or indirectly;
(G) aquifer storage and recovery services;
(H) sewer services; or
(I) any other service or product of the authority
provided inside or outside the boundaries of the authority;
(3) grants or gifts;
(4) the ownership or operation of all or a designated
part of the authority's works, improvements, facilities, plants, or
equipment; and
(5) the proceeds of contracts.
(b) Bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the
authority may be first or subordinate lien obligations at the
board's discretion.
(c) In connection with any bonds, notes, or other
obligations of the authority, the authority may exercise any power
of an issuer under Chapter 1371, Government Code.
(d) The authority may conduct a public, private, or
negotiated sale of the bonds, notes, or other obligations.
(e) The authority may enter into one or more indentures of
trust to further secure its bonds, notes, or other obligations.
(f) The authority may issue bonds, notes, or other
obligations in more than one series as necessary to carry out the
purposes of this chapter. In issuing bonds, notes, or other
obligations secured by revenue of the authority, the authority may
reserve the right to issue additional bonds, notes, or other
obligations secured by the authority's revenue that are on parity
with or are senior or subordinate to the bonds, notes, or other
obligations issued earlier.
(g) A resolution of the board or a trust indenture securing
the bonds, notes, or other obligations may specify additional
provisions that constitute a contract between the authority and the
authority's bondholders, noteholders, or other obligation holders.
(h) Bonds, notes, or other obligations may be additionally
secured by deed of trust or mortgage on any or all of the
authority's facilities.
(i) Bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by the
authority are not subject to approval by the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality, and commission rules regarding bonds,
notes, or other obligations do not apply to bonds, notes, or other
obligations issued by the authority.
(j) The authority provided by this chapter for the
authorization and issuance of bonds, notes, and other obligations
is in addition to, and not in lieu of, the authority otherwise
established under general law and may not be construed as a
limitation on, or a modification of, general law providing for
authorization and issuance of bonds, notes, and other forms of
obligations. Nothing in this chapter may be construed as affecting
any existing contract, bond, note, or other obligation of the
authority or any indenture, covenant, mortgage, or other agreement
relating to them.
Sec. 11010.202. ELECTION NOT REQUIRED. The authority is
not required to hold an election to approve the issuance of revenue
bonds or notes or of other obligations under this subchapter.
Sec. 11010.203. USE OF REVENUE AND GROWTH PROJECTIONS. For
the purposes of attorney general review and approval and in lieu of
any other manner of demonstrating the ability to pay debt service
and satisfy any other pecuniary obligations relating to bonds,
notes, or other obligations, the authority may demonstrate the
authority's ability to satisfy the debt service and those
obligations using accumulated funds of the authority and revenue
and growth projections prepared by a professional utility rate
consultant at the direction of the authority. If the resolution
authorizing the issuance of the bonds, notes, or other obligations
provides that the authority intends to increase rates to the extent
necessary to pay debt service and satisfy any other pecuniary
obligations arising under the bonds, notes, or other obligations,
the revenue projections prepared by a professional utility rate
consultant may include forecast rate increases and accumulated and
available fund balances as determined by the authority.
Sec. 11010.204. REFUNDING BONDS. The authority may issue
refunding bonds, notes, and other obligations to refund any of its
bonds, notes, or other obligations in any manner provided by law,
including Chapter 1207, Government Code.
Sec. 11010.205. BONDS, NOTES, AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS EXEMPT
FROM TAXATION. A bond, note, or other obligation issued under this
chapter, a transaction related to the bond, note, or other
obligation, the interest on the bond, note, or other obligation,
and the profit from the sale of the bond, note, or other obligation
are exempt from taxation by this state or a political subdivision of
this state.
SECTION 3. On the effective date of this Act:
(1) the Alliance Regional Water Authority shall assume
all assets, liabilities, bonds, notes, and other obligations of the
Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency;
(2) all contracts and written agreements of the Hays
Caldwell Public Utility Agency are assigned to and assumed by the
Alliance Regional Water Authority; and
(3) the Alliance Regional Water Authority may refund
all or a portion of the bonds, notes, or other obligations issued by
the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency in any manner provided by
law, including Chapter 1207, Government Code.
SECTION 4. (a) The sponsors of the Alliance Regional Water
Authority shall appoint the initial directors under Section
11010.053, Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act,
not earlier than April 1, 2018, and not later than April 30, 2018.
Directors of the Hays Caldwell Public Utility Agency serving on the
effective date of this Act shall serve as the temporary directors of
the Alliance Regional Water Authority until the initial directors
take office on May 1, 2018.
(b) As soon as practicable after the initial directors have
been appointed under Section 11010.053, Special District Local Laws
Code, as added by this Act, the initial directors shall draw lots to
determine which directors serve a one-year term expiring April 30,
2019, which directors serve a two-year term expiring April 30,
2020, and which directors serve a three-year term expiring April
30, 2021. The lots must be split into thirds or as near to thirds as
possible.
(c) This section expires January 1, 2022.
SECTION 5. (a) The legal notice of the intention to
introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
Government Code.
(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has
submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives within the required time.
(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
and accomplished.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.