H.B. No. 1551
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the power of the Bell County Water Control and
  Improvement District No. 1 to issue bonds.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 9005.102, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 9005.102.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS. (a)  The district
  may issue bonds for the purpose of purchasing, constructing,
  acquiring, owning, operating, repairing, improving, enlarging, or
  extending any district works, improvements, facilities, plants,
  equipment, and appliances needed or useful to accomplish or carry
  out the purposes, powers, functions, or obligations of the
  district, including works, improvements, facilities, plants,
  equipment, and appliances needed to provide a waterworks system,
  sanitary sewer system, storm sewer system, or solid waste disposal
  system.  [In this section, "district property" means the district's
  improvements, including property operated by the district under a
  lease.]
         (b)  To provide for the payment of bonds issued under this
  section, the [The] district may:
               (1)  impose ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in
  the district;
               (2)  pledge all or any part of revenue available to the
  district from any source, including all or part of the revenue:
                     (A)  resulting from the ownership or operation of
  the district's works, improvements, facilities, plants, equipment,
  and appliances; or
                     (B)  available under specific contracts for a
  period of time the district determines; or
               (3)  pledge any combination of the sources of taxes or
  revenue described by Subdivisions (1) and (2) [may call a bond
  election and issue bonds in the manner and for the purposes provided
  in Chapters 49 and 51, Water Code.   In addition to the purposes
  under those chapters, the district may vote on and issue bonds to:
               [(1)     acquire materials, supplies, equipment, and
  other property needed or useful to maintain district property; and
               [(2)     extend, enlarge, improve, or repair district
  property].
         (c)  Bonds secured by and payable solely from revenue under
  Subsection (b)(2):
               (1)  may be issued without an election; and
               (2)  are not subject to Section 49.181, Water Code [If
  bonds are voted on and issued in connection with property to be
  operated by the district under lease, the engineer's report must
  include a summary of the proposed expenditures of the bond
  proceeds].
         (d)  The district must hold an election in the manner
  provided by Chapters 49 and 51, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
  before the district may impose an ad valorem tax or issue bonds
  payable from ad valorem taxes.
         (e)  The district may exercise any of the rights or powers
  granted to the governing body of an issuer under Chapter 1371,
  Government Code.
         (f)  This section is wholly sufficient authority for the
  issuance of bonds, the pledge of revenues, taxes, or any
  combination of revenues and taxes, and the performance of other
  acts and procedures authorized by this section by the district
  without reference to any other provision of law or any restriction
  or limitation contained in those provisions, except as specifically
  provided by this section.
         (g)  To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between
  this section and any other law, this section controls.
         (h)  The district may use any law not in conflict with this
  section to the extent convenient or necessary to carry out any power
  or authority, express or implied, granted by this section.
         SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a bond issued by the Bell County Water Control and Improvement
  District No. 1 on or after the effective date of this Act. A bond
  issued by the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District
  No. 1 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law as
  it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act, and
  that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  (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 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1551 was passed by the House on March
  30, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1551 was passed by the Senate on May
  5, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor