HBA-AMW, CBW H.B. 3652 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3652 By: Morrison Natural Resources 7/19/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Texas faces a difficult challenge in developing 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 3652 creates the Lavaca County Groundwater Conservation District, subject to approval at a confirmation election. 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 3652 establishes the Lavaca County Groundwater Conservation District (district), subject to approval at a confirmation election. The bill sets forth the rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties of the district. The bill establishes that the district is governed by a board of five directors and sets forth provisions regarding the composition and administration of the board, the terms, qualifications, and election of directors, and the names of the temporary directors. The bill also sets forth provisions regarding regional cooperation between the district, other groundwater conservation districts, and governmental entities. The bill prohibits the district from imposing an ad valorem tax at a rate that exceeds five cents on each $100 valuation of taxable property in the district. The bill sets forth provisions for a confirmation election and provides that if the creation of the district is not confirmed at such an election held before September 1, 2006, the Act expires on that date. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.