Texas 2019 - 86th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB627 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 627
	1	+	By: Birdwell, et al. S.B. No. 627
	2	+	(Nevárez)
2	3
3	4
	5	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	6		AN ACT
5	7		relating to the Red River Authority, following recommendations of
6	8		the Sunset Advisory Commission.
7	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	10		SECTION 1. Section 1A(a), Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th
9	11		Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended to read as follows:
10	12		(a) The Authority is subject to review under Chapter 325,
11	13		Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under
12	14		that chapter. The review shall be conducted under Section 325.025,
13	15		Government Code, as if the Authority were a state agency scheduled
14	16		to be abolished September 1, 2031 [2019], and every 12th year after
15	17		that year.
16	18		SECTION 2. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature,
17	19		Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Sections 4a and 4b to
18	20		read as follows:
19	21		Sec. 4a. (a) It is a ground for removal from the Board that
20	22		a director:
21	23		(1) does not have at the time of taking office the
22	24		qualifications required by Section 4 of this Act;
23	25		(2) does not maintain during service on the Board the
24	26		qualifications required by Section 4 of this Act;
25	27		(3) is ineligible for directorship under Chapter 171,
26	28		Local Government Code;
27	29		(4) cannot, because of illness or disability,
28	30		discharge the director's duties for a substantial part of the
29	31		director's term; or
30	32		(5) is absent from more than half of the regularly
31	33		scheduled Board meetings that the director is eligible to attend
32	34		during a calendar year without an excuse approved by a majority vote
33	35		of the Board.
34	36		(b) The validity of an action of the Board is not affected by
35	37		the fact that it is taken when a ground for removal of a director
36	38		exists.
37	39		(c) If the general manager has knowledge that a potential
38	40		ground for removal exists, the general manager shall notify the
39	41		president of the Board of the potential ground. The president shall
40	42		then notify the Governor and the Attorney General that a potential
41	43		ground for removal exists. If the potential ground for removal
42	44		involves the president, the general manager shall notify the next
43	45		highest ranking director, who shall then notify the Governor and
44	46		the Attorney General that a potential ground for removal exists.
45	47		Sec. 4b. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for
46	48		office as a director may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a
47	49		director in attendance at a Board meeting until the person
48	50		completes a training program that complies with this section.
49	51		(b) The training program must provide the person with
50	52		information regarding:
51	53		(1) the law governing Authority operations;
52	54		(2) the programs, functions, rules, and budget of the
53	55		Authority;
54	56		(3) the results of the most recent formal audit of the
55	57		Authority;
56	58		(4) the requirements of:
57	59		(A) laws relating to open meetings, public
58	60		information, administrative procedure, and disclosure of conflicts
59	61		of interest; and
60	62		(B) other laws applicable to members of the
61	63		governing body of a river authority in performing their duties; and
62	64		(5) any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
63	65		Authority or the Texas Ethics Commission.
64	66		(c) A person appointed to the Board is entitled to
65	67		reimbursement for the travel expenses incurred in attending the
66	68		training program regardless of whether the attendance at the
67	69		program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office.
68	70		(d) The general manager shall create a training manual that
69	71		includes the information required by Subsection (b) of this
70	72		section. The general manager shall distribute a copy of the
71	73		training manual annually to each director. Each director shall
72	74		sign and submit to the general manager a statement acknowledging
73	75		that the director has received and reviewed the training manual.
74	76		SECTION 3. Sections 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11, Chapter 279, Acts
75	77		of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, are amended to read
76	78		as follows:
77	79		Sec. 5. The directors of the Authority shall organize by
78	80		electing one director [of their members president, one]
79	81		vice-president, one secretary, and one treasurer. Five (5)
80	82		directors shall constitute a quorum at any meeting and a
81	83		concurrence of a majority of those present shall be sufficient in
82	84		all matters pertaining to the business of the district, except the
83	85		letting of construction contracts and the authorization of issuance
84	86		of warrants paying therefor, which shall require the concurrence of
85	87		seven (7) directors. Warrants for the payment of money may be drawn
86	88		and signed by two (2) officers or employees designated by standing
87	89		order entered in the minutes of the Authority when such accounts
88	90		have been contracted and ordered paid by the Board of Directors.
89	91		Sec. 7. The Governor shall designate a director of the Board
90	92		as the president of the Board to serve in that capacity at the
91	93		pleasure of the Governor. The president shall preside at all
92	94		meetings of the Board and shall be the chief executive officer of
93	95		the Authority. The vice-president shall act as president in case of
94	96		the absence or disability of the president. The secretary shall act
95	97		as secretary of the Board and shall be charged with the duty of
96	98		keeping a record of all proceedings and all orders of the Board.
97	99		The treasurer shall receive and receipt for all moneys received and
98	100		expended. In case of the absence or inability of the secretary to
99	101		act, a secretary pro tem shall be selected by the directors.
100	102		Sec. 9. A complete book of accounts shall be kept. The
101	103		account books and records of the Authority and of the depository of
102	104		the Authority shall be audited by a Certified Public Accountant
103	105		annually as soon as practicable after the end of the district's
104	106		fiscal year, such audit to cover a fiscal year ending September 30
105	107		of each year, and a report thereon shall be submitted to the first
106	108		regular meeting of the Board of Directors thereafter. A copy of the
107	109		[Said] report shall be [in quadruplicate, one copy being] filed [in
108	110		the office of the Authority, one with the depository of the
109	111		Authority, one] in the office of the auditor. The copy [and one
110	112		with the Texas Department of Water Resources, all of which] shall be
111	113		open to public inspection.
112	114		Sec. 10. (a) Unless the Board by resolution increases the
113	115		fee to an amount authorized by Section 49.060, Water Code, the [The]
114	116		directors shall receive as fees of office the sum of not to exceed
115	117		Twenty-Five ($25.00) Dollars per day for each day of service
116	118		necessary to the discharge of their duties, in addition to all
117	119		traveling expenses, provided the same is authorized by vote of the
118	120		Board of Directors, they shall file with the secretary on the last
119	121		day of each month, or as soon thereafter as practicable, a verified
120	122		statement showing the actual amount due and warrants shall be
121	123		issued therefor.
122	124		(b) In all areas of conflict with Subsection (a) of this
123	125		section, Section 49.060, Water Code, takes precedence.
124	126		Sec. 11. The directors may employ a general manager for the
125	127		Authority and may give him full authority in the management and
126	128		operation of the Authority's affairs (subject only to the orders of
127	129		the Board of Directors). The term of office and compensation to be
128	130		paid such manager and all employees shall be fixed by the Board of
129	131		Directors and all employees may be removed by the Board. A director
130	132		may not be employed as general manager [and at such compensation as
131	133		may be fixed by a majority of the other directors, and when so
132	134		employed he shall continue to perform the duties of a director, but
133	135		shall receive no compensation as such director].
134	136		SECTION 4. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature,
135	137		Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Section 11a to read as
136	138		follows:
137	139		Sec. 11a. The Board shall develop and implement policies
138	140		that clearly separate the policymaking responsibilities of the
139	141		Board and the management responsibilities of the general manager
140	142		and staff of the Authority.
141	143		SECTION 5. Section 14a, Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th
142	144		Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended to read as follows:
143	145		Sec. 14a. (1) In addition to other purposes heretofore
144	146		authorized by law, the Authority shall have and is vested with all
145	147		the powers of the state of Texas under Section 59, Article XVI,
146	148		Constitution of the State of Texas, and shall likewise, have and is
147	149		vested with all powers, rights, privileges, and functions conferred
148	150		upon navigation districts by General Law. The Authority is
149	151		governed by and subject to Chapters 49, 60, and 62, Water Code, but
150	152		in all areas of conflict, Chapter 62 takes precedence. The [Without
151	153		limitation of the generality of the foregoing, the] Authority shall
152	154		have and is hereby authorized to exercise the following powers,
153	155		rights and privileges, and functions;
154	156		(2) to promote, construct, maintain and operate or aid
155	157		and encourage, the construction, maintenance and operation of
156	158		navigable canals or waterways and all navigational systems or
157	159		facilities auxiliary thereto using the natural bed and banks of the
158	160		Red River, where practicable and thence traversing such route as
159	161		may be found by the Authority to be more feasible and practicable to
160	162		connect Red River in Texas with any new navigation canals to be
161	163		constructed in the lower reaches of Red River or to connect Red
162	164		River with the intercoastal canal. The Authority is empowered to
163	165		construct or cause to be constructed a system of artificial
164	166		waterways and canals, together with all locks and other works,
165	167		structures and artificial facilities as may be necessary and
166	168		convenient for the construction, maintenance and operation of
167	169		navigation canals or waterways and all navigational systems and
168	170		facilities auxiliary thereto;
169	171		(3) the right, power, and authority to acquire,
170	172		purchase, improve, extend, take over, construct, maintain, repair,
171	173		operate, develop and regulate ports, levees, wharves, docks, locks,
172	174		warehouses, grain elevators, dumping facilities, belt railways,
173	175		lands, and all other facilities or aids to navigation or aids
174	176		necessary to the operation or development of ports, or waterways
175	177		within the Red River Basin in Texas, provided, the powers conferred
176	178		on the Authority under the provisions of this subdivision extend to
177	179		a facility or aid authorized under this subdivision only if the
178	180		facility or aid is situated in a county or counties included as part
179	181		of said Authority;
180	182		(4) to acquire by gift or purchase any and all
181	183		properties of any kind, including lighters, tugs, barges and other
182	184		floating equipment of any nature, real, personal or mixed, or any
183	185		interest therein within or outside of the boundaries of the
184	186		Authority necessary to the exercise of the powers, rights,
185	187		privileges and functions conferred upon it by this Act and by
186	188		condemnation in the manner provided in Section 18 of the Act
187	189		creating the Authority, provided that the Authority shall not be
188	190		required to give bond for appeal or bond for costs in any judicial
189	191		proceedings;
190	192		(5) to control, develop, store and use the natural
191	193		flow and floodwaters of the Red River and its tributaries for the
192	194		purpose of operating and maintaining said navigable canals or
193	195		waterways and all navigational systems or facilities auxiliary
194	196		thereto, provided, however, that such navigational use shall be
195	197		subordinate to consumptive use of water, and navigation shall be
196	198		incidental thereto;
197	199		(6) to effectuate the construction, maintenance and
198	200		operation of bank stabilization facilities and[,] channel
199	201		rectification or alignment in order[,] to prevent and aid in
200	202		preventing devastation of lands from recurrent over-flows and the
201	203		protection of life and property in the watershed of the Red River in
202	204		Texas or any tributaries thereof within the Authority from
203	205		uncontrolled flood waters; to store and conserve to the greatest
204	206		beneficial use the storm, flood and unappropriated waters of the
205	207		Red River in Texas or any tributaries thereof within the Authority,
206	208		so as to prevent the escape of any water without maximum beneficial
207	209		use either within or without the boundaries of the Authority;
208	210		(7) if [in the event] the construction or maintenance
209	211		and operation of navigable canals or waterways and all navigational
210	212		systems or facilities auxiliary thereto on the Red River in Texas is
211	213		taken over or performed by the Federal Government or any agency of
212	214		the Federal Government, then [and in such event] the Authority may:
213	215		(A) [shall be fully authorized to make and] enter
214	216		into [any such] contracts that [as] may be [lawfully] required by
215	217		the Federal Government, including [such] assignments and transfers
216	218		of property, [and rights of] property rights, [and] easements, and
217	219		privileges; and
218	220		(B) take any [and all] other action [lawful
219	221		things and acts may be necessary and] required by [in order to meet
220	222		the requirements of] the Federal Government or any agency of the
221	223		Federal Government [in taking over the construction or maintenance
222	224		and operation of said navigable canals or waterways and all
223	225		navigational systems or facilities auxiliary thereto];
224	226		(8) the Authority shall have the power to acquire
225	227		additional land adjacent to any permanent improvement heretofore or
226	228		hereafter constructed within the Authority for the purpose of
227	229		developing public parks and recreational facilities; the power to
228	230		acquire necessary right-of-way for public ingress and egress to
229	231		such areas. The Authority may provide recreational facilities and
230	232		services, and may enter into contracts and agreements with the
231	233		Federal Government or any agency thereof; the Parks and Wildlife
232	234		Department of the State of Texas, any county, municipality,
233	235		municipal corporation, person, firm or nonprofit organization for
234	236		the construction, operation and maintenance of such park or
235	237		recreational facility. It is legislative intent that the Authority
236	238		will coordinate the development of any public parks and
237	239		recreational facilities with the Parks and Wildlife Department for
238	240		conformity with the land and water resources conservation and
239	241		recreation plan. ['State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.']
240	242		The Authority may perform all functions necessary to qualify for
241	243		state or federal recreational grants and loans;
242	244		(9) in addition to other purposes heretofore
243	245		authorized by law and as a necessary aid to the conservation,
244	246		control, preservation, and distribution of such water for
245	247		beneficial use, the Authority is authorized to purchase, construct,
246	248		improve, repair, operate and maintain works and facilities
247	249		necessary for the collection, transportation, treatment and
248	250		disposal of sewage and industrial waste and effluent and to issue
249	251		negotiable bonds for such purposes, and the Authority may make
250	252		contracts with cities and others under which the Authority will
251	253		collect, transport, treat and dispose of sewage from such cities or
252	254		other entities. The Authority may also make contracts with any city
253	255		for the use of any collection, transportation, treatment or
254	256		disposal facilities owned by such city or by the Authority;
255	257		(10) the bonds which may be issued under this Section,
256	258		shall be payable from revenues under any contract or contracts
257	259		described herein or from other income of the Authority. Such bonds
258	260		shall be in the form and shall be issued in the manner prescribed by
259	261		law for other revenue bonds and as provided in Sections 26, 27, 28
260	262		and 29, Article 8280-228.
261	263		SECTION 6. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature,
262	264		Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Section 14e to read as
263	265		follows:
264	266		Sec. 14e. (a) In this section, "system" means a system for
265	267		the:
266	268		(1) provision of water to the public for human
267	269		consumption; or
268	270		(2) collection and treatment of wastewater.
269	271		(b) The Authority shall adopt an asset management plan by:
270	272		(1) preparing an asset inventory that identifies the
271	273		assets of each system and the condition of the assets;
272	274		(2) developing criteria to prioritize assets for
273	275		repair or replacement, including:
274	276		(A) the date by which the asset will need to be
275	277		repaired or replaced;
276	278		(B) the importance of the asset in providing safe
277	279		drinking water and complying with regulatory standards;
278	280		(C) the importance of the asset to the effective
279	281		operation of the system; and
280	282		(D) other criteria as determined by the
281	283		Authority;
282	284		(3) estimating asset repair and replacement costs;
283	285		(4) identifying and evaluating potential financing
284	286		options; and
285	287		(5) prioritizing systems that are not in compliance
286	288		with federal or state regulatory standards, including water quality
287	289		standards.
288	290		(c) The Authority shall review and revise the plan as
289	291		necessary to account for regulatory changes and other developments.
290	292		(d) The Board shall approve the plan annually as part of its
291	293		budgeting process.
292	294		SECTION 7. Sections 17 and 20, Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th
293	295		Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, are amended to read as follows:
294	296		Sec. 17. (a) The Authority may seek and accept
295	297		contributions to its funds from any source for [For] the purpose of
296	298		funding:
297	299		(1) [providing funds requisite to secure the]
298	300		necessary studies;
299	301		(2) [,] engineering and other services; and
300	302		(3) [which may be necessary,] the collection and
301	303		computation of data respecting regional and general conditions that
302	304		influence [influencing] the character and extent of the
303	305		improvements necessary to effect the purposes of the [creation of
304	306		this] Authority to the greatest public advantage[, it is hereby
305	307		provided that the Authority may solicit, seek and accept
306	308		contributions to its funds from any other district, authority or
307	309		municipality, the Federal Government or the State of Texas, or from
308	310		any other source].
309	311		(b) Any and all grants and gratuities shall be strictly
310	312		accounted for and shall be subject to the same rules, regulations
311	313		and orders as are other funds handled or disbursed by the Authority.
312	314		Sec. 20. The Authority shall establish and collect rates
313	315		and other charges for the sale or use of water or for its services
314	316		sold, furnished or supplied which fees and charges shall be
315	317		reasonable and nondiscriminatory but sufficient to produce
316	318		revenues adequate to pay the expenses of the Authority in carrying
317	319		out its functions for which it is created and to fulfill the terms
318	320		of any agreements made with the holders of any of its obligations.
319	321		Provided, however, that the rates and charges for the sale or use of
320	322		water shall be subject to review by the Public Utility Commission of
321	323		Texas [State Board of Water Engineers], as provided by general law.
322	324		SECTION 8. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature,
323	325		Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Sections 20a and 20b to
324	326		read as follows:
325	327		Sec. 20a. (a) In this section and Section 20b, "affected
326	328		person" has the meaning assigned by Section 13.002, Water Code.
327	329		(b) The Board shall establish a process to ensure that,
328	330		before the Authority makes a significant change to a rate or charge
329	331		for the sale and use of water, affected persons are provided:
330	332		(1) notice of proposed change; and
331	333		(2) an opportunity to provide to the Board comments
332	334		regarding the proposed change.
333	335		(c) The process established under Subsection (b) must
334	336		include:
335	337		(1) the provision of notice of a proposed change:
336	338		(A) on the Authority's website; and
337	339		(B) in an affected person's utility bills; and
338	340		(2) appropriate informational meetings or rate
339	341		hearings that provide affected persons the opportunity to provide
340	342		public comments about the proposed change to be held:
341	343		(A) before sending a statement of intent required
342	344		under Chapter 13, Water Code;
343	345		(B) in locations as necessary to enable affected
344	346		persons to attend; and
345	347		(C) after the provision of notice under
346	348		Subdivision (1) of this subsection.
347	349		(d) The Board by rule shall establish a percentage change in
348	350		a rate or charge such that a change greater than or equal to that
349	351		percentage is considered significant for purposes of Subsection (b)
350	352		of this section.
351	353		Sec. 20b. (a) The Authority shall notify affected persons
352	354		of their right to appeal changes to rates:
353	355		(1) in any notices related to changes to rates;
354	356		(2) in utility bills sent before the deadline for
355	357		initiating an appeal under Chapter 13, Water Code; and
356	358		(3) on the Authority's website.
357	359		(b) The notice required by Subsection (a) of this section
358	360		must include descriptions of:
359	361		(1) the appeals process;
360	362		(2) the requirements for an appeal, including the
361	363		number of signatures needed on a petition; and
362	364		(3) the methods available for obtaining additional
363	365		information related to rates.
364	366		SECTION 9. Section 22, Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th
365	367		Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended to read as follows:
366	368		Sec. 22. The Authority may:
367	369		(1) [shall] make bylaws for the management and
368	370		regulation of its affairs;
369	371		(2) [to adopt and] use a corporate seal;
370	372		(3) [to] appoint officers, attorneys, agents, and
371	373		employees, [and to] prescribe their duties, and fix their
372	374		compensation;
373	375		(4) [to] make [such] other contracts and execute
374	376		instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of the [its]
375	377		powers, rights, privileges and functions conferred on the Authority
376	378		[upon it] by this Act and the general laws of the state pertaining
377	379		to water control and improvement districts;
378	380		(5) [to] borrow money for its corporate purposes [and
379	381		without limitation of the generality of the foregoing]; and
380	382		(6) [to] borrow money and accept grants from the
381	383		United States of America, [or] the State of Texas, or any other
382	384		source, and in connection with any such loan or grant,[; to] enter
383	385		into [such] agreements and assume [such] obligations as may be
384	386		required.
385	387		SECTION 10. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature,
386	388		Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Sections 33, 34, 35, and
387	389		36 to read as follows:
388	390		Sec. 33. (a) The Board shall develop a policy to encourage
389	391		the use of appropriate alternative dispute resolution procedures
390	392		under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the resolution of
391	393		internal and external disputes under the Authority's jurisdiction.
392	394		(b) The Authority's procedures relating to alternative
393	395		dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any
394	396		model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative
395	397		Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state
396	398		agencies.
397	399		(c) The Authority shall:
398	400		(1) coordinate the implementation of the policy
399	401		adopted under Subsection (a) of this section;
400	402		(2) provide training as needed to implement the
401	403		procedures for alternative dispute resolution; and
402	404		(3) collect data concerning the effectiveness of those
403	405		procedures.
404	406		Sec. 34. (a) The Board shall develop and implement
405	407		policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to
406	408		appear before the Board and to speak on any issue under the
407	409		jurisdiction of the Authority.
408	410		(b) At each regular meeting of the Board, the Board shall
409	411		include public testimony as a meeting agenda item and allow members
410	412		of the public to comment on other agenda items and other matters
411	413		under the jurisdiction of the Authority. The Board may not
412	414		deliberate on or decide a matter not included in the meeting agenda,
413	415		except that the Board may discuss including the matter on the agenda
414	416		for a subsequent meeting.
415	417		Sec. 35. (a) The Authority shall maintain a system to
416	418		promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the
417	419		Authority. The Authority shall maintain information about the
418	420		parties to and subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the
419	421		results of the review or investigation of the complaint, and the
420	422		disposition of the complaint.
421	423		(b) The Authority shall make information available
422	424		describing its procedures for complaint investigation and
423	425		resolution.
424	426		(c) The Authority shall periodically notify the complaint
425	427		parties of the status of the complaint until final disposition.
426	428		Sec. 36. (a) The state auditor shall conduct an audit of
427	429		the Authority to evaluate whether the Authority has addressed the
428	430		operational challenges identified in the report on the Authority by
429	431		the Sunset Advisory Commission presented to the 86th Legislature.
430	432		(b) The state auditor may not begin the audit required by
431	433		Subsection (a) of this section before December 1, 2021, and shall
432	434		prepare and submit a report of the findings of the audit to the
433	435		chairman and executive director of the Sunset Advisory Commission
434	436		not later than December 1, 2022.
435	437		(c) The state auditor shall include the auditor's duties
436	438		under this section in each audit plan under Section 321.013,
437	439		Government Code, that governs the auditor's duties for the period
438	440		specified by Subsection (b) of this section.
439	441		(d) This section expires January 1, 2023.
440	442		SECTION 11. Section 13, Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th
441	443		Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is repealed.
442	444		SECTION 12. (a) The term of the president of the board of
443	445		directors of the Red River Authority serving on the effective date
444	446		of this Act expires September 1, 2019. The director serving as
445	447		president on the effective date of this Act may continue to serve on
446	448		the board of directors until the director's successor is appointed
447	449		and has qualified.
448	450		(b) Not later than September 2, 2019, the governor shall
449	451		designate a director as president of the board of directors of the
450	452		Red River Authority as required by Section 7, Chapter 279, Acts of
451	453		the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, as amended by this
452	454		Act.
453		-	SECTION 13. (a) Notwithstanding Section 4b(a), Chapter
454		-	~~279,~~ Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, as added
455		-	by this Act, a person serving on the board of directors of the Red
	455	+	SECTION 13. (a) Notwithstanding Section 4b(a), Chapter 279,
	456	+	Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, as added by
	457	+	this Act, a person serving on the board of directors of the Red
456	458		River Authority may vote, deliberate, and be counted as a director
457	459		in attendance at a meeting of the board until December 1, 2019.
458	460		(b) This section expires January 1, 2020.
459	461		SECTION 14. (a) The legal notice of the intention to
460	462		introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
461	463		Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
462	464		copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
463	465		officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
464	466		under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
465	467		Government Code.
466	468		(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has
467	469		submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
468	470		Environmental Quality.
469	471		(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
470	472		its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
471	473		lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
472	474		representatives within the required time.
473	475		(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
474	476		state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
475	477		to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
476	478		and accomplished.
477	479		SECTION 15. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
478		-	______________________________ ______________________________
479		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
480		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 627 passed the Senate on
481		-	April 9, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
482		-	______________________________
483		-	Secretary of the Senate
484		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 627 passed the House on
485		-	April 26, 2019, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 0,
486		-	three present not voting.
487		-	______________________________
488		-	Chief Clerk of the House
489		-	Approved:
490		-	______________________________
491		-	Date
492		-	______________________________
493		-	Governor