HBA-RBT S.B. 296 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 296 By: Jackson Natural Resources 4/20/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, under Texas law, the acts of navigation districts were validated under the Navigation Act, passed during the 74th Legislature. Port authorities were not included under the Navigation Act. This bill adds port authorities to the Navigation Act, validating and confirming all acts and governmental proceedings, officials, bonds, and obligations of port authorities. S.B. 296 validates and confirms all acts and governmental proceedings, officials, bonds, and obligations of navigation districts and port authorities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. DEFINITION. Defines "district." SECTION 2. VALIDATION. Validates and confirms in all respects all acts and governmental proceedings taken by a district before March 1,1999, all commissioners or other officials of a district who took office before the effective date of this Act, and all bonds and other obligations of a navigation district or port authority authorized before the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. APPLICABILITY. Provides that SECTION 2 does not apply to an act, proceeding, commissioner or official, bond, or obligation the validity of which or of whom is the subject of pending litigation on the effective date of this Act; certain acts and proceedings relating to the conveyance by a district of any interest in real property; or an act or proceeding that violated Section 61.117 (Limitations on Sales and Use of State Lands and Flats), Water Code. Establishes that this Act does not validate any governmental acts or proceedings which were at the time of occurrence a misdemeanor or felony. SECTION 4. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.