HBA-NMO H.B. 2987 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill Analysis        H.B. 2987
By: Puente
Natural Resources
4/10/1999
Introduced


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides that the Edwards Aquifer Authority (authority)
consists of single-member voting districts with district lines based on
census blocks.  The existing district lines divide county voting precincts
in seven of the authority's eight counties, resulting in the possible
confusion of voters and election officials. H.B. 2987 prohibits a county
election precinct from containing territory from more than one authority
district, and authorizes the authority's board of directors to modify
district lines accordingly. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 8280-219, V.T.C.S., by adding Section 1.094, as
follows: 

Sec.  1.094.  MODIFICATION OF DISTRICT LINES AFTER DECENNIAL CENSUS.
Authorizes the Edwards Aquifer Authority board of directors (board) to
modify the district lines described in Section 1.093, after each federal
decennial census.  Authorizes the board, during March or April of an
even-numbered year, by order, to modify the district lines described in
Section 1.093,  to provide that the lines do not divide a county election
precinct except as necessary to follow the Edwards Aquifer Authority's
(authority) jurisdictional boundaries.  Prohibits modifications under this
section from violating the Federal Voting Rights Act.  Prohibits a county
election precinct established by a county in accordance with Chapter 42
(Election Precinct), Election Code, from containing territory from more
than one authority district.   

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
Effective date: upon passage.