S.B. No. 1336

	AN ACT
	relating to the powers and duties, the construction of laws, and the
	election dates of certain groundwater conservation districts.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  BEXAR METROPOLITAN WATER DISTRICT. Section
	52(a), Chapter 306, Acts of the 49th Legislature, Regular Session,
	1945, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  Not later than January 1, 2017 [five years after the
	date the election results were certified in favor of dissolution
	under Article 2 or 2A of the Act enacting this section], the System
	shall integrate the services and infrastructure of the District
	into the System in a reasonable and orderly manner.  The Commission
	for good cause may grant an extension to complete integration of not
	more than three additional years.  The System shall base the
	integration on the consideration of relevant information,
	including:
	(1)  the location and condition of the infrastructure;
	(2)  debt obligations;
	(3)  prudent utility practices and fiscal policies;
	(4)  costs and revenue; and
	(5)  potential impacts on the customers of the District
	and the System.
	SECTION 2.  CLEARWATER UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT. Section 6(a), Chapter 524, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The district has all of the rights, powers, privileges,
	authority, functions, and duties provided by the general law of
	this state, including Chapter 36 [Chapters 50 and 52], Water Code,
	applicable to groundwater [underground water] conservation
	districts created under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
	Constitution.  This Act prevails over any provision of general law
	that is in conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
	SECTION 3.  CROCKETT COUNTY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT. Section 6(a), Chapter 712, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The district has all of the rights, powers, privileges,
	authority, functions, and duties provided by the general law of
	this state, including Chapter 36 and Subchapters H and I, Chapter 49
	[Chapters 50 and 52], Water Code, applicable to groundwater
	[underground water] conservation districts created under Article
	XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution.  This Act prevails over
	any provision of general law that is in conflict or inconsistent
	with this Act.
	SECTION 4.  AMENDMENT TO WATER CODE REGARDING EDWARDS
	AQUIFER AUTHORITY. Subchapter D, Chapter 36, Water Code, is
	amended by adding Section 36.125 to read as follows:
	Sec. 36.125.  EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY. (a)  Except as
	provided by Subsection (b), this subchapter does not apply to the
	Edwards Aquifer Authority.
	(b)  Sections 36.102 and 36.118 apply to the Edwards Aquifer
	Authority.
	SECTION 5.  LOST PINES GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
	Subchapter B, Chapter 8849, Special District Local Laws Code, is
	amended by adding Section 8849.055 to read as follows:
	Sec. 8849.055.  LIABILITY. For liability purposes only, a
	director is considered a district employee under Chapter 101, Civil
	Practice and Remedies Code, even if the director does not receive
	fees of office voluntarily, by district policy, or through a
	statutory exception to this section. A director is immune from suit
	and immune from liability for official votes and official actions.
	SECTION 6.  MESA UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT.
	(a)  Section 6(a), Chapter 669, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The district has all of the rights, powers, privileges,
	authority, functions, and duties provided by the general law of
	this state, including Chapter 36 [Chapters 50, 51, and 52], Water
	Code, applicable to groundwater [underground water] conservation
	districts created under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
	Constitution.  This Act prevails over any provision of general law
	that is in conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
	(b)  Section 10, Chapter 669, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 10.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. On the uniform election
	date [first Saturday] in May of each even-numbered year [the second
	year after the year in which the district is authorized to be
	created at a confirmation election], an election shall be held in
	the district to elect the appropriate number [for the election] of
	directors. [Directors elected from commissioner precincts 2 and 4
	shall each serve two-year terms and directors elected from
	commissioner precincts 1 and 3 and the district at large shall each
	serve four-year terms. Thereafter, on the same date in each
	subsequent second year, the appropriate number of directors shall
	be elected to the board.]
	SECTION 7.  SANDY LAND UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT. (a)  Section 6, Chapter 673, Acts of the 71st
	Legislature, Regular Session, 1989, is amended by adding Subsection
	(c) to read as follows:
	(c)  If there is a conflict between Chapters 36 and 49, Water
	Code, Chapter 36 prevails.
	(b)  Section 10, Chapter 673, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 10.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. On the uniform election
	date [first Saturday] in May of every other [the second year after
	the year in which the district is authorized to be created at a
	confirmation election, an election shall be held in the district
	for the election of two directors who shall each serve two-year
	terms and three directors who shall each serve four-year terms.
	Thereafter, on the same date in each subsequent second] year, the
	appropriate number of directors shall be elected to the board.
	SECTION 8.  SANTA RITA UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT. Section 6(a), Chapter 653, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The district has all of the rights, powers, privileges,
	authority, functions, and duties provided by the general law of
	this state, including Chapter 36 [Chapters 50 and 52], Water Code,
	applicable to groundwater [underground water] conservation
	districts created under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
	Constitution.  This Act prevails over any provision of general law
	that is in conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
	SECTION 9.  SARATOGA UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT. Section 6, Chapter 519, Acts of the 71st Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1989, is amended by adding Subsection (c) to read
	as follows:
	(c)  If there is a conflict between Chapters 36 and 49, Water
	Code, Chapter 36 prevails.
	SECTION 10.  SOUTH PLAINS UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT.  (a)  Section 5(a), Chapter 46, Acts of the 72nd
	Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, is amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The district has all of the rights, powers, privileges,
	authority, functions, and duties provided by the general law of
	this state, including Chapter 36 [Chapters 50 and 52], Water Code,
	applicable to groundwater [underground water] conservation
	districts created under Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
	Constitution.  This Act prevails over any provision of general law
	that is in conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
	(b)  Section 11, Chapter 46, Acts of the 72nd Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1991, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 11.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. On the uniform election
	date [first Saturday] in May of even-numbered years [the second
	year after the year in which the district is authorized to be
	created at a confirmation election], an election shall be held in
	the district to elect the appropriate number [for the election] of
	[the] directors [for Precinct Nos. 1 and 3, who shall each serve
	two-year terms, and the directors for Precinct Nos. 2 and 4 and for
	the district at large, who shall each serve four-year terms.
	Thereafter, on the same date in each subsequent second year, the
	appropriate number of directors shall be elected to the board].
	SECTION 11.  SUTTON COUNTY UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
	DISTRICT. (a)  Section 15(e), Chapter 377, Acts of the 69th
	Legislature, Regular Session, 1985, is amended to read as follows:
	(e)  The district shall hold an election in the district to
	elect directors on the uniform election date [first Saturday] in
	May of each odd-numbered year.
	(b)  Section 17, Chapter 377, Acts of the 69th Legislature,
	Regular Session, 1985, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 17.  STATUTORY INTERPRETATION.  Except as otherwise
	provided by this Act, if [If] there is a conflict between this Act
	and Chapter 49, 51, or 36 [52], Water Code, this Act controls.  If
	there is a conflict between Chapter 49 or 51, Water Code, and
	Chapter 36 [52], Water Code, Chapter 36 [52] controls.
	SECTION 12.  AMENDMENT TO WATER CODE.  Section 36.0151(f),
	Water Code, is amended to read as follows:
	(f)  Before September 1, 2021 [2015], the commission may not
	create a groundwater conservation district under this section in a
	county:
	(1)  in which the annual amount of surface water used is
	more than 50 times the annual amount of groundwater produced;
	(2)  that is located in a priority groundwater
	management area; and
	(3)  that has a population greater than 2.3 million.
	SECTION 13.  TERMS OF OFFICE. The governing body of a
	groundwater conservation district for which the election date has
	changed under the laws amended by this Act shall adjust the terms of
	office to conform to the new election date, if applicable.
	SECTION 14.  NOTICE. (a)  The legal notice of the intention
	to introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
	Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
	copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
	officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
	under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
	Government Code.
	(b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has
	submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on
	Environmental Quality.
	(c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
	its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the
	lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
	representatives within the required time.
	(d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
	state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
	to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled
	and accomplished.
	SECTION 15.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect
	September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1336 passed the Senate on
	April 16, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that
	the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 29, 2015, by the
	following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1336 passed the House, with
	amendments, on May 27, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 141,
	Nays 0, three present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor