88R18802 KBB-F     By: Schofield H.B. No. 4659       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a study of the financing of regional facilities that   convert groundwater to surface water.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS. In this Act:                (1)  "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.                (2)  "Facility" means a regional water facility that   converts groundwater to surface water.          SECTION 2.  WORKING GROUP. (a)  A working group composed of   representatives of the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas   Public Finance Authority is formed to study, review, and report to   the legislature on the methods used to finance or refinance   regional water facilities that convert groundwater to surface   water.          (b)  The working group may include representatives of local   governments of Harris and Fort Bend Counties that have borrowed   money from the board for a facility.          (c)  The chair of the board, or a designee of the chair of the   board, shall serve as the chair of the working group.          (d)  The working group shall convene at the call of the   chair.          SECTION 3.  STUDY. The working group shall study:                (1)  the useful life of regional water facilities that   convert groundwater to surface water, including associated   improvements during a facility's useful life;                (2)  the typical period of time necessary to pay the   costs associated with developing a financed facility;                (3)  the economic effect on current water users paying   the cost of a facility that will provide service to future water   users;                (4)  the financing terms of current and anticipated   facilities;                (5)  the ability to distribute the costs associated   with the development of a facility to the users who benefit from the   facility, including:                      (A)  the fairness and equity benefits to water   users of extending the financing of a facility compared to the   potential increase in financing costs associated with an extension   of financing;                      (B)  the ability to use methods of financing or   refinancing to accomplish this distribution;                      (C)  policies and procedures of this state and the   board that may be used to accomplish this distribution;                      (D)  whether the board's financing terms and   conditions can be improved to better accomplish this distribution,   including whether the board may forgive a loan or a portion of a   loan to better accomplish this distribution;                      (E)  whether potential measures that could   accomplish this distribution are precluded by state law; and                      (F)  what changes to state law may be necessary to   accomplish this distribution;                (6)  whether financial assistance administered by the   board may be used to refinance or restructure existing financing of   a facility; and                (7)  whether a facility is eligible for grant funding.          SECTION 4.  FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a)  The working   group shall recommend any changes and improvements relating to the   financing of regional facilities that convert groundwater to   surface water that may be implemented by this state, the board, or   another state agency without further legislative authorization.          (b)  Not later than September 1, 2024, the working group   shall report the working group's findings and recommendations to   the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of   representatives, and the governor.          (c)  A member of the house or the senate may request to be   kept informed of the working group's progress throughout the   duration of the study.          SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025.          SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  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, 2023.