HBA-BSM H.B. 1136 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1136 By: Cook Natural Resources 2/19/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas faces a difficult challenge to develop water policies that serve state and regional interests. The Texas Constitution authorizes the creation of groundwater conservation districts to plan, develop, and regulate the use of water. House Bill 1136 creates the Post Oak Groundwater Conservation District in Colorado County, subject to approval at a confirmation election, to manage the county's groundwater resources. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 1136 creates the Post Oak Groundwater Conservation District (district) in Colorado County (SECTION 1). The bill authorizes the district to, subject to voter approval, pay the maintenance and operating costs of the district and to pay any bonds or notes issued by the district, impose a stipulated ad valorem tax, assess fees, and solicit and accept grants (SECTION 12). The bill requires the district to perform certain duties and coordinate with adjacent districts to provide regional cooperation and continuity in groundwater resource management (SECTION 6). H.B. 1136 provides that the district is governed by a board of seven directors and sets forth provisions regarding the composition and administration of the board, and the election, qualifications and terms of the directors (SECTIONS 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11). The bill also sets forth provisions regarding an election to confirm the establishment of the district (SECTION 10). EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.