House Bill 2180, which includes the Texas Sunset Commission's recommendations for the Sulphur River Basin Authority, has passed in the Texas House of Representatives and was received by the Senate on Wednesday.
It now will be referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs for a public hearing.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Dan Flynn, R-Canton, requires SRBA to adopt the Sunset recommendations, including board training, acquisition of permits from county judges on proposed projects within that county and maintenance of a system to act on complaints filed with the authority. It also removes SRBA's authorization to aid in the foresting of the watershed area, furnish solid waste collection, acquire land for parks and recreational purposes or develop hydroelectric power.
The original bill would have prevented people appointed to the SRBA board of directors on or before Jan. 1, 2016, from being reappointed to the board.
Flynn introduced a substitute bill during a public hearing March 29 that would allow Gov. Greg Abbott to reappoint any board member.
Area stakeholders said they were surprised by the substitution, with Riverbend Water Resources District Board Member Fred Milton telling the Natural Resources Committee he was for the bill as originally written.
Rep. Gary VanDeaver, R-New Boston, who serves Bowie, Franklin, Lamar and Red River counties, supported the substitution, stating, "I don't think it's good policy for the Legislature to tell the governor who he can't appoint."
Three new members were appointed March 23, 2016Mike Sandefur of Texarkana, Bret McCoy of Omaha, Texas, and Katie Stedman of Mount Pleasant, Texas. Sandefur resigned in January, and McCoy and Stedman's terms expire in Feb. 1, 2021.
Terms for board members Mike Russell of Clarksville, Texas, and Patricia Wommack of Lone Star, Texas, expired Feb. 1, 2017. Terms for board members Brad Drake of Paris, Texas, and Wally Kraft of Paris, expire Feb. 1, 2019.
Although SB 308, introduced by Sens. Van Taylor, R-Plano and Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, contains the original language before HB 2180's substitution, the Senate will also consider the substituted version sent over from the House. SB 308 was referred to the Agriculture, Water and Rural Affairs Committee in March and has not had a public hearing.
Liz Fazio-Hale, Riverbend executive director/CEO, said her board wouldn't attend the HB 2180's Senate hearing. They'd rather get the bill through than have it stall. she said.
"At the end of the day, it's not worth delaying the passage of the bill to pull that language out or offer anything different," she said. "Hopefully the governor and his staff will read (the) Sunset Staff Report, talk to Sunset Staff people and understand the need for real change at the board level."
The bill has not yet been set for a public hearing. Upcoming meetings, copies of the bills and videos of the 85th Legislative Session can be found at legis.state.tx.us.