Bill Text: TX HB1921 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the functions and territory of the Upper Colorado River Authority, following the recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2017-05-29 - Effective on 9/1/17 [HB1921 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB1921-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 1921
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the functions and territory of the Upper Colorado River
  Authority, following the recommendations of the Sunset Advisory
  Commission.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 8506.003, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 8506.003.  TERRITORY.  Unless modified under
  Subchapter J, Chapter 49, Water Code, or other law, the authority's
  territory consists of that part of this state included in the
  boundaries of Coke, Concho, Crockett, Glasscock, Irion, Menard,
  Mitchell, Nolan, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Taylor,
  and Tom Green Counties.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 8506, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8506.0021 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 8506.0021.  APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. (a)  The
  authority is subject to review under Chapter 325, Government Code
  (Texas Sunset Act), but may not be abolished under that chapter.
  The review shall be conducted under Section 325.025, Government
  Code, as if the authority were a state agency scheduled to be
  abolished September 1, 2029, and every 12th year after that year.
         (b)  The authority shall pay the cost incurred by the Sunset
  Advisory Commission in performing the review. The Sunset Advisory
  Commission shall determine the cost, and the authority shall pay
  the amount promptly on receipt of a statement from the Sunset
  Advisory Commission detailing the cost.
         SECTION 3.  Section 8506.051, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection
  (d) to read as follows:
         (c)  Each director must be a resident of a county located in
  the authority's territory.  The governor shall attempt to achieve
  geographic representation throughout [Three directors must be
  residents of Tom Green County, three directors must be residents of
  Coke County, and three directors must be residents of counties
  contiguous to the authority or a county any part of which is within
  25 miles of] the authority in the appointment of directors.
         (d)  The governor shall designate a member of the board as
  the presiding officer of the board to serve in that capacity at the
  pleasure of the governor.
         SECTION 4.  Section 8506.056(a), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The board shall select a secretary[, a presiding
  officer,] and a treasurer.  The treasurer may also hold the office
  of secretary.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 8506, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Sections 8506.060, 8506.061,
  8506.062, and 8506.063 to read as follows:
         Sec. 8506.060.  DIRECTOR TRAINING PROGRAM. (a)  A person who
  is appointed to and qualifies for office as a director may not vote,
  deliberate, or be counted as a director in attendance at a meeting
  of the board until the person completes a training program that
  complies with this section.
         (b)  The training program must provide the person with
  information regarding:
               (1)  the law governing authority operations;
               (2)  the programs, functions, rules, and budget of the
  authority;
               (3)  the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking
  authority of the authority;
               (4)  the results of the most recent formal audit of the
  authority;
               (5)  the requirements of: 
                     (A)  laws relating to open meetings, public
  information, administrative procedure, and disclosing conflicts of
  interest; and 
                     (B)  other laws applicable to directors of a river
  authority in performing their duties; and
               (6)  any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
  authority or the Texas Ethics Commission. 
         (c)  A person appointed to the board is entitled to
  reimbursement by the authority for travel expenses incurred in
  attending the training program regardless of whether attendance at
  the program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office.
         (d)  The board shall create a training manual that includes
  the information required by Subsection (b). The board shall
  distribute a copy of the training manual annually to each director.
  On receipt of the training manual, each director shall sign and
  submit to the board a statement acknowledging receipt of the
  training manual.
         Sec. 8506.061.  SEPARATION OF POLICYMAKING AND MANAGEMENT
  FUNCTIONS. The board shall develop and implement policies that
  clearly separate the policymaking responsibilities of the board and
  the management responsibilities of the general manager and staff of
  the authority.
         Sec. 8506.062.  NEGOTIATED RULEMAKING AND ALTERNATIVE
  DISPUTE RESOLUTION. (a)  The board shall develop a policy to
  encourage the use of: 
               (1)  negotiated rulemaking procedures under Chapter
  2008, Government Code, for the adoption of authority rules; and
               (2)  appropriate alternative dispute resolution
  procedures under Chapter 2009, Government Code, to assist in the
  resolution of internal and external disputes under the authority's
  jurisdiction.
         (b)  The authority's procedures relating to alternative
  dispute resolution must conform, to the extent possible, to any
  model guidelines issued by the State Office of Administrative
  Hearings for the use of alternative dispute resolution by state
  agencies.
         (c)  The authority shall:
               (1)  coordinate the implementation of the policy
  adopted under Subsection (a); 
               (2)  provide training as needed to implement the
  procedures for negotiated rulemaking or alternative dispute
  resolution; and 
               (3)  collect data concerning the effectiveness of those
  procedures.
         Sec. 8506.063.  PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY. The board shall
  develop and implement policies that provide the public with a
  reasonable opportunity to appear before the board and to speak on
  any agenda item at board meetings. 
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter C, Chapter 8506, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8506.116 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 8506.116.  COMPLAINTS. (a) The authority shall
  maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints
  filed with the authority. The authority shall maintain information
  about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the
  complaint, a summary of the results of the review or investigation
  of the complaint, and its disposition.
         (b)  The authority shall make information available
  describing its procedures for complaint investigation and
  resolution.
         (c)  The authority shall periodically notify the complaint
  parties of the status of the complaint until final disposition.
         SECTION 7.  Section 1A, Chapter 126, General Laws, Acts of
  the 44th Legislature, Regular Session, 1935, is repealed.
         SECTION 8.  (a) Notwithstanding Section 8506.060(a),
  Special District Local Laws Code, as added by this Act, a person
  serving on the board of directors of the Upper Colorado River
  Authority may vote, deliberate, and be counted as a director in
  attendance at a meeting of the board until December 1, 2017.
         (b)  This section expires January 1, 2018.
         SECTION 9.  (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 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1921 was passed by the House on April
  27, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 2, 3 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1921 was passed by the Senate on May
  19, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor       
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