Bill Text: TX HB911 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to the creation and functions of the Lake Houston Watershed Commission.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-07 - Referred to Water & Rural Affairs [HB911 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB911-Engrossed.html
| 86R29082 SLB-D | ||
| By: Huberty | H.B. No. 911 | |
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| relating to the creation and functions of the Lake Houston | ||
| Watershed Commission. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 2, Water Code, is amended by | ||
| adding Chapter 9 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 9. LAKE HOUSTON WATERSHED COMMISSION | ||
| SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS | ||
| Sec. 9.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: | ||
| (1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. | ||
| (2) "Watershed commission" means the Lake Houston | ||
| Watershed Commission. | ||
| Sec. 9.0102. PURPOSE. The watershed commission is created | ||
| to provide the public with streamlined communication and | ||
| cooperation in flood control planning. | ||
| SUBCHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATION | ||
| Sec. 9.0201. WATERSHED COMMISSION MEMBERSHIP. (a) The | ||
| watershed commission is composed of the following voting watershed | ||
| commissioners: | ||
| (1) one member of the commissioners court of Harris | ||
| County, appointed by that court; | ||
| (2) one member of the commissioners court of Liberty | ||
| County, appointed by that court; | ||
| (3) one member of the commissioners court of | ||
| Montgomery County, appointed by that court; | ||
| (4) one person appointed by the city council of the | ||
| City of Houston; | ||
| (5) one person appointed by the city council of the | ||
| City of Humble; and | ||
| (6) one person appointed by the board of each | ||
| municipal utility district that borders Lake Houston. | ||
| (b) The San Jacinto River Authority and the Coastal Water | ||
| Authority each shall appoint a representative to serve as a | ||
| nonvoting commissioner of the watershed commission. | ||
| Sec. 9.0202. WATERSHED COMMISSION TERMS; VACANCY. (a) | ||
| Commissioners of the watershed commission serve staggered terms of | ||
| two years, with approximately equal numbers of commissioners' terms | ||
| expiring each year. | ||
| (b) Each appointing entity shall fill a vacancy on the | ||
| watershed commission for the unexpired term of a person appointed | ||
| by that entity by appointing a person who has the same | ||
| qualifications as required under Section 9.0201 for the person who | ||
| previously held the vacated position. | ||
| Sec. 9.0203. PRESIDING OFFICER. The watershed | ||
| commissioners shall select one commissioner as the presiding | ||
| officer of the watershed commission to serve in that capacity until | ||
| the person's term as a watershed commissioner expires. | ||
| Sec. 9.0204. WATERSHED COMMISSION STAFF. On request by the | ||
| watershed commission, the board shall provide any necessary staff | ||
| to assist the watershed commission in the performance of its | ||
| duties. | ||
| Sec. 9.0205. PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION. (a) | ||
| The watershed commission may hold public meetings as needed to | ||
| fulfill its duties under this chapter. | ||
| (b) The watershed commission is subject to Chapters 551 and | ||
| 552, Government Code. | ||
| Sec. 9.0206. COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS. (a) Commissioners | ||
| of the watershed commission serve without compensation but may be | ||
| reimbursed by legislative appropriation for actual and necessary | ||
| expenses related to the performance of watershed commission duties. | ||
| (b) Reimbursement under Subsection (a) is subject to the | ||
| approval of the presiding officer of the watershed commission. | ||
| Sec. 9.0207. MEETINGS. The watershed commission shall meet | ||
| quarterly. | ||
| SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES | ||
| Sec. 9.0301. POWERS AND DUTIES. The watershed commission | ||
| shall: | ||
| (1) engage in flood control planning in the watershed | ||
| of Lake Houston; | ||
| (2) facilitate the sharing of flood-related | ||
| information and maps between political subdivisions in the | ||
| watershed of Lake Houston; and | ||
| (3) publish information about the activities of the | ||
| watershed commission on an Internet website maintained by the | ||
| watershed commission. | ||
| SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 31, 2019, the | ||
| entities described by Section 9.0201, Water Code, as added by this | ||
| Act, shall appoint watershed commissioners to the Lake Houston | ||
| Watershed Commission. | ||
| (b) The Lake Houston Watershed Commission shall hold an | ||
| initial meeting in the first quarter of 2020. At the initial | ||
| meeting, the watershed commissioners shall draw lots to determine | ||
| which watershed commissioners serve a term of one year and which | ||
| watershed commissioners serve a term of two years. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
