S.B. No. 1835

	AN ACT
	relating to the Calhoun County Groundwater Conservation District;
	providing authority to impose a voter-approved tax.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subsections (a) and (b), Section 8860.022,
	Special District Local Laws Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The [Not later than October 1, 2011, the] temporary
	directors shall meet and shall order an election to be held in the
	district not later than December 31, 2016 [September 1, 2012], to
	confirm the creation of the district.
	(b)  The ballot for the election shall be printed to provide
	for voting for or against the proposition:  "The creation of the
	Calhoun County Groundwater Conservation District." The ballot may
	also include a provision to vote for or against [and] the district's
	imposition of a tax not to exceed two cents on each $100 valuation
	of taxable property in the district or a fee to pay the maintenance
	and operating costs of the district.["]
	SECTION 2.  Section 8860.152, Special District Local Laws
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 8860.152.  LIMITATION ON TAXES [PROHIBITED].  The
	district may not impose an ad valorem [a] tax at a rate that exceeds
	two cents on each $100 valuation of taxable property in the
	district, and any tax imposed under this section must first be
	approved by the voters of the district at the election held to
	confirm the creation of the district or at a separate election held
	in accordance with Section 36.201 [does not have the authority
	granted by Sections 36.020 and 36.201-36.204], Water Code[,
	relating to taxes].
	SECTION 3.  (a)  The legislature validates and confirms all
	governmental acts and proceedings of the Calhoun County
	Commissioners Court relating to the appointment of temporary
	directors of the Calhoun County Groundwater Conservation District
	and of that district that were taken before the effective date of
	this Act.
	(b)  This section does not apply to any matter that on the
	effective date of this Act:
	(1)  is involved in litigation if the litigation
	ultimately results in the matter being held invalid by a final court
	judgment; or
	(2)  has been held invalid by a final court judgment.
	SECTION 4.  (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 5.  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, 2013.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1835 passed the Senate on
	April 11, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1835 passed the House on
	May 20, 2013, by the following vote:  Yeas 147, Nays 0, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor