2023 Texas Statutes › Water Code › Title 2 - Water Administration › Subtitle E - Groundwater Management › Chapter 36 - Groundwater Conservation Districts › Subchapter B. Creation of District › Section 36.017. Confirmation and Directors' Election for District in a Management Area

Sec. 36.017.  CONFIRMATION AND DIRECTORS' ELECTION FOR DISTRICT IN A MANAGEMENT AREA.  (a)  For a district created under Section 36.015, not later than the 120th day after the date all temporary directors have been appointed and have qualified, the temporary directors shall meet and order an election to be held within the boundaries of the proposed district to approve the creation of the district and to elect permanent directors.
(b)  In the order calling the election, the temporary directors shall designate election precincts and polling places for the election.  In designating the polling places, the temporary directors shall consider the needs of all voters for conveniently located polling places.
(c)  The temporary directors shall publish notice of the election at least one time in at least one newspaper with general circulation within the boundaries of the proposed district.  The notice must be published before the 30th day preceding the date of the election.
(d)  The ballot for the election must be printed to provide for voting for or against the proposition:  "The creation of the _________________ Groundwater Conservation District."  If the district levies a maintenance tax for payment of its expenses, then an additional proposition shall be included with the following language:  "The levy of a maintenance tax at a rate not to exceed ______ cents for each $100 of assessed valuation."  The same ballot or another ballot must provide for the election of permanent directors, in accordance with Section 36.059.
(e)  Immediately after the election, the presiding judge of each polling place shall deliver the returns of the election to the temporary board, and the board shall canvass the returns and declare the result.  The board shall file a copy of the election result with the commission.
(f)  If a majority of the votes cast at the election favor the creation of the district, the temporary board shall declare the district created and shall enter the result in its minutes.
(g)  If a majority of the votes cast at the election are against the creation of the district, the temporary board shall declare the district defeated and shall enter the result in its minutes.  The temporary board shall continue operations in accordance with Subsection (h).
(h)  If the majority of the votes cast at the election are against the creation of the district, the district shall have no further authority, except that any debts incurred shall be paid and the organization of the district shall be maintained until all the debts are paid.
(i)  If a majority of the votes cast at the election are against the levy of a maintenance tax, the district shall set fees authorized by this chapter to pay for the district's regulation of groundwater in the district.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 933, Sec. 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1995.  Amended by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 966, Sec. 2.39, eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 415 (H.B. 2767), Sec. 2, eff. June 10, 2015.