HBA-BSM H.B. 372 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 372
By: Gallego
Natural Resources
7/19/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Prior to the 77th Legislature, voting eligibility in the Maverick County
Water Control and Improvement District No.1 was based on whether a person
lived within the district, or whether the person lived within the district
and city limits. If a person lived within the city limits, the person was
prohibited from voting in a district election, although the person may have
owned irrigated land within the district and would have paid taxes to the
district.  Moreover, another individual may have lived within the district
and may not have owned irrigated land within district boundaries, but had
the ability to vote in district elections.  House Bill 372 sets forth
eligibility criteria for persons to vote in the district elections.  

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 372 amends the Water Code concerning the eligibility to vote in
the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No.1.  A person
is eligible to vote in district elections if the person: 

 _is 18 years of age or older;

 _is a United States citizen;

 _is an individual who holds title to or an interest in title to irrigable
farmland or ranch land within the boundaries of the district; and  

 _receives and uses irrigation water delivered by the district by and
through the district's canal system.  

An eligible  voter must register 30 days before the date of a district
election to vote in that election.  The district is required to file with
the county clerk of Maverick County a certified copy of the list of the
district's registered voters no later than 25 days before the date of a
district election. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.