HB1615 - Relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain local laws concerning water and wastewater special districts, including a conforming amendment.

      H.B. No. 1615         AN ACT   relating to the nonsubstantive revision of certain local laws   concerning water and wastewater special districts, including a   conforming amendment.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:   ARTICLE 1. NONSUBSTANTIVE REVISION OF LOCAL LAWS          SECTION 1.01.  NAVIGATION DISTRICT. Subtitle A, Title 5,   Special District Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Chapter 5008   to read as follows:   CHAPTER 5008. WILLACY COUNTY NAVIGATION DISTRICT   SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS   Sec. 5008.0101.  DEFINITIONS    Sec. 5008.0102.  FINDINGS OF PURPOSE    SUBCHAPTER B. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION   Sec. 5008.0201.  BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS; TERM    Sec. 5008.0202.  ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS    Sec. 5008.0203.  PRESIDING OFFICER    Sec. 5008.0204.  GENERAL MANAGER OR PORT DIRECTOR    SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES   Sec. 5008.0301.  AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE AND LEASE LAND;                     EMINENT DOMAIN    Sec. 5008.0302.  AUTHORITY TO SELL LAND    Sec. 5008.0303.  AUTHORITY TO LEASE OR GRANT EASEMENTS                     FOR CERTAIN PURPOSES    Sec. 5008.0304.  CONVEYANCE AND ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN                     PROPERTY    Sec. 5008.0305.  ENTRY ON PROPERTY    Sec. 5008.0306.  POWERS REGARDING PUBLIC AIRPORTS    Sec. 5008.0307.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SERVICES    SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS   Sec. 5008.0401.  AD VALOREM TAX FOR MAINTENANCE AND                     OPERATIONS    SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS   Sec. 5008.0501.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER    Sec. 5008.0502.  NOTICE OF ELECTION    Sec. 5008.0503.  FORM OF BONDS    Sec. 5008.0504.  TAXES FOR BONDS    CHAPTER 5008. WILLACY COUNTY NAVIGATION DISTRICT   SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS          Sec. 5008.0101.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Board" means the district's board of navigation   and canal commissioners.                (2)  "Commissioner" means a board member.                (3)  "District" means the Willacy County Navigation   District. (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404, Sec. 1A.)          Sec. 5008.0102.  FINDINGS OF PURPOSE. The creation of the   district is essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59,   Article XVI, Texas Constitution. (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404,   Sec. 8 (part).)   SUBCHAPTER B. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION          Sec. 5008.0201.  BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS; TERM. (a) The   board consists of five elected commissioners.          (b)  Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms.  (Acts   53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404, Secs. 1B(c) (part), (d).)          Sec. 5008.0202.  ELECTION OF COMMISSIONERS. (a) The   district is divided into four numbered single-member districts for   electing commissioners.          (b)  The board may revise the single-member districts as   necessary or appropriate.          (c)  One commissioner is elected from each single-member   district, and one commissioner is elected from the district at   large.          (d)  The board shall hold an election on the uniform election   date in November of each even-numbered year to elect the   appropriate number of commissioners. (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch.   404, Secs. 1B(a), (b), (c) (part), 1C.)          Sec. 5008.0203.  PRESIDING OFFICER. The commissioner   elected from the district at large serves as the board's presiding   officer. (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404, Sec. 1B(e).)          Sec. 5008.0204.  GENERAL MANAGER OR PORT DIRECTOR. (a) The   board may:                (1)  employ a general manager or port director; and                (2)  give the manager or director full administrative   authority to manage and operate the district's affairs, subject   only to the board's supervision.          (b)  The board shall set the term of office and compensation   of the general manager or port director. (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch.   404, Sec. 6.)   SUBCHAPTER C.  POWERS AND DUTIES          Sec. 5008.0301.  AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE AND LEASE LAND;   EMINENT DOMAIN. (a)  The district may own land adjacent or   accessible to the navigable water in the district, whether acquired   by gift, purchase, or exercise of the power of eminent domain.          (b)  The district may:                (1)  lease all or any part of land the district owns for   any term the board considers prudent or advisable to:                      (A)  an individual;                      (B)  a corporation; or                      (C)  a government or governmental agency,   including this state or the United States; and                (2)  charge a reasonable toll, fee, rent, or other   charge for the lease.          (c)  This section does not prevent the district from granting   a revocable license or permit for the use of a limited portion of a   waterfront facility or land the district owns for a purpose   consistent with the development of the district's property.          (d)  The district's authority under this section to exercise   the power of eminent domain expired on September 1, 2013, unless the   district submitted a letter to the comptroller in accordance with   Section 2206.101(b), Government Code, not later than December 31,   2012. (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404, Sec. 1 (part); Acts 55th   Leg., R.S., Ch. 141, Sec. 1 (part); New.)          Sec. 5008.0302.  AUTHORITY TO SELL LAND. The district may   sell any part of land the district owns to any government or   governmental agency, including this state or the United States, for   any amount of money the board considers prudent and advisable if the   board considers the sale necessary and advisable for the proper   development of the port. (Acts 55th Leg., R.S., Ch. 141, Sec. 2.)          Sec. 5008.0303.  AUTHORITY TO LEASE OR GRANT EASEMENTS FOR   CERTAIN PURPOSES. The district may, for causeway, road, or public   utility purposes, lease, or grant an easement over or along, any   real property the district owns or holds in fee simple or by patent,   easement, or otherwise to:                (1)  an individual;                (2)  a corporation; or                (3)  a government or governmental entity, including   this state or the United States. (Acts 55th Leg., R.S., Ch. 141,   Sec. 1a.)          Sec. 5008.0304.  CONVEYANCE AND ACQUISITION OF CERTAIN   PROPERTY. (a) This section applies only to property, including   land or an interest in land, that:                (1)  the district owns;                (2)  the United States desires to enable a United   States department or establishment to carry out the provisions of   an act of Congress in aid of navigation, flood control, or   improvement of water courses in aid of navigation; and                (3)  may be necessary for the construction, operation,   and maintenance of works required for a purpose described by   Subdivision (2).          (b)  The district may:                (1)  on the request of the United States, convey title   or an easement to property, including land or an interest in land,   to the United States with or without monetary consideration; and                (2)  acquire land or a right-of-way necessary to carry   out the provisions or meet the conditions of an act of Congress   described by Subsection (a). (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404, Sec.   2.)          Sec. 5008.0305.  ENTRY ON PROPERTY. District commissioners,   engineers, and employees may enter any land in the district to   attend to any district business, including to examine the land and   to make plans, surveys, maps, and profiles for improvements   contemplated by the district.  (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404, Sec.   3.)          Sec. 5008.0306.  POWERS REGARDING PUBLIC AIRPORTS. (a) The   district, in carrying out the district's powers and functions under   the constitution and statutes of this state, may:                (1)  plan, acquire, own, control, protect, develop,   maintain, and operate, or arrange by lease or contract for the   operation of, a public airport; and                (2)  exercise for a purpose described by Subdivision   (1) any powers granted to the district for other port purposes.          (b)  The district may:                (1)  enter into grant agreements with the United States   to obtain federal grant-in-aid money for public airport purposes;   and                (2)  accept, receive, disburse, and spend the money for   the purposes, and in accordance with the time and conditions,   provided by the applicable grant agreements. (Acts 56th Leg.,   R.S., Ch. 392, Secs. 1, 2.)          Sec. 5008.0307.  LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SECURITY SERVICES. The   board may:                (1)  employ and set the compensation of security   personnel to protect the district's property; or                (2)  pay all or a part of the compensation of a deputy   sheriff of Willacy County or a deputy constable of any precinct in   which the district owns navigation facilities for special services   provided to the district in policing the district's property and   enforcing state laws in the district's territory. (Acts 53rd Leg.,   R.S., Ch. 404, Sec. 7.)   SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS          Sec. 5008.0401.  AD VALOREM TAX FOR MAINTENANCE AND   OPERATIONS. (a) The board may impose an ad valorem tax at a rate   not to exceed 20 cents on each $100 valuation of taxable property in   the district for the maintenance and operation of the district and   the district's properties.          (b)  The tax at its authorized rate must be imposed in the   manner prescribed for bond taxes under Subchapter E, subject to the   limit prescribed by Subsection (a). (Acts 53rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 404,   Sec. 5 (part).)   SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS          Sec. 5008.0501.  APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. This   subchapter applies only to bonds payable from both ad valorem taxes   and district revenue. (New.)          Sec. 5008.0502.  NOTICE OF ELECTION. (a) Instead of any   other notice required by law, notice of an election to issue bonds   must be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in a   newspaper of general circ [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]