Title SD, Special District Local Laws Code

Sec. 8501.004. RECORDS. (a) The secretary-treasurer of the board shall keep a record of all proceedings and all orders of the board. (b) The records of the authority are subject to public inspection. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 8501.005. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION. This chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005. SUBCHAPTER B. NATURE AND TERRITORY

Sec. 8501.051. CREATION AND NATURE OF AUTHORITY. The Angelina and Neches River Authority is created as a conservation and reclamation district. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 8501.052. TERRITORY. (a) The authority is composed of the territory described by Section 3, Chapter 97, General Laws, Acts of the 44th Legislature, Regular Session, 1935, as amended by the relevant part of Section 1, Chapter 394, Acts of the 65th Legislature, Regular Session…

Sec. 8501.101. MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD. (a) The board consists of nine directors appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. (b) Each director must be a freehold property taxpayer and a qualified voter of the state. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff…

Sec. 8501.1011. TRAINING REQUIRED FOR BOARD MEMBERS. (a) A person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a director may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a director in attendance at a meeting of the board until the person completes a training program that complies w…

Sec. 8501.102. TERMS. Directors are appointed for staggered terms of four years with four or five of the directors' terms expiring every two years as appropriate. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005. Amended by: Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 385 (H.B. 152…

Sec. 8501.103. VACANCY. (a) A vacancy on the board shall be filled by appointment by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. (b) A person appointed to a vacant position serves for the unexpired part of the term. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1…

Sec. 8501.104. OATH AND BOND REQUIREMENT FOR DIRECTOR. (a) A director shall, within 15 days after the date of appointment, qualify by taking the constitutional oath of office and by filing a good and sufficient bond with the secretary of state. (b) The bond is subject to approval…

Sec. 8501.105. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. Unless the board by resolution increases the fee of office to an amount authorized by Section 49.060, Water Code, a director shall receive as a fee of office an amount not to exceed $10 for each day of service necessary to discharge the d…

Sec. 8501.106. QUORUM RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION MATTERS. The concurrence of five directors is required for entering into a construction contract or for authorizing the issuance of a warrant to pay for a construction contract. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2…

Sec. 8501.107. OFFICERS. (a) The governor shall designate one of the directors as president of the board to serve in that capacity at the pleasure of the governor. The board shall elect one director as vice president and one as secretary-treasurer. (b) The president is the chief …

Sec. 8501.1071. REMOVAL OF DIRECTOR. (a) It is a ground for removal from the board that a director: (1) does not have at the time of taking office the qualifications required by Section 8501.101; (2) does not maintain during service on the board the qualifications required by Sec…

Sec. 8501.108. MEETINGS. (a) The president shall preside at all meetings of the board. (b) The board shall set, by order entered in the minutes of its proceedings, a specified time for the regular meetings of the board. The board shall meet for a specific occasion if called by or…

Sec. 8501.1081. PUBLIC TESTIMONY. The board shall develop and implement policies that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear before the board and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of the authority. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 385 (H.B. …

Sec. 8501.1082. GENERAL MANAGER. The board shall employ a general manager. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 385 (H.B. 1520), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2025.

Sec. 8501.1083. SEPARATION OF POLICY-MAKING AND STAFF FUNCTIONS. The board shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the policy-making responsibilities of the board and the management responsibilities of the general manager and the employees of the authority. Add…

Sec. 8501.109. EMPLOYMENT PREFERENCE. (a) The authority and each contractor who employs labor for the construction of an improvement for the authority shall give a preference to the employment of: (1) persons who are on relief rolls or otherwise unemployed and who are able to eff…

Sec. 8501.110. REMOVAL OF EMPLOYEE. An employee of the authority may be removed by the board. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 8501.111. COMPENSATION OF EMPLOYEES. The board shall set the reasonable compensation to be paid to the general manager and other employees of the authority. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 8501.112. DIRECTOR'S, OFFICER'S, OR EMPLOYEE'S SURETY BOND. A bond required to be given by a director, officer, or employee of the authority must be executed by a surety company authorized to do business in this state, as surety on the bond. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, S…

Sec. 8501.113. CONFLICT OF INTEREST; CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A director or an engineer or employee of the authority may not be directly or indirectly interested, personally or as an agent for another person, in a contract for the purchase or construction of any work by the authorit…

Sec. 8501.114. COMPLAINT SYSTEM. (a) The authority shall maintain a system to promptly and efficiently act on complaints filed with the authority. The authority shall maintain information about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the complaint, a summary of the result…

Sec. 8501.151. POWERS UNDER CONSTITUTION AND OTHER LAW. The authority has the powers of a conservation and reclamation district under the constitution and other laws of this state, including the powers: (1) expressly authorized in Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, for …

Sec. 8501.152. APPLICABILITY OF WATER CODE. The rights, powers, privileges, and functions granted to the authority, and the authority itself, are expressly subject to Chapters 11, 12, 26, and 49, Water Code, as applicable. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 200…

Sec. 8501.153. STATE SUPERVISION AND APPROVAL. (a) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall consider the adequacy of, and decide whether to approve, any flood control or conservation improvement plan that: (1) is devised by the authority to achieve a plan or purpose fo…

Sec. 8501.154. GENERAL POWERS RELATING TO WATER. (a) The authority has the rights and powers of an independent conservation and reclamation district to construct, maintain, and operate in the valleys of the Neches River and its tributaries, inside or outside the authority, any wo…

Sec. 8501.155. POWERS RELATING TO PARTICULAR PURPOSES. For the conservation and beneficial use of the water of the Neches River and its tributaries, including storm water and floodwater, the authority may control and use the water in the manner and for a particular purpose descri…

Sec. 8501.156. POWERS RELATING TO FLOODING. In acting under Section 8501.155, the authority may: (1) prevent the devastation of land from recurrent overflows; (2) protect life and property in the authority from uncontrolled floodwater; and (3) encourage the conservation of soil t…

Sec. 8501.157. POWERS RELATING TO USE OF WATER IN GENERAL. In acting under Section 8501.155, the authority may: (1) through practical means, provide for the control and coordination of the regulation of the water of the Neches River and its tributaries; (2) by adequate organizati…

Sec. 8501.158. POWERS RELATING TO DOMESTIC, COMMERCIAL, OR INDUSTRIAL USE OF WATER. In acting under Section 8501.155, the authority may: (1) conserve the water of the Neches River and its tributaries essential for the domestic uses of the people of the authority, including all ne…

Sec. 8501.159. POWERS RELATING TO USE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION. In acting under Section 8501.155, the authority may provide for the irrigation of all land in the authority or land outside the authority but inside the authority's watershed area where the irrigation is required for …

Sec. 8501.160. POWERS RELATING TO DRAINAGE OF WATER. In acting under Section 8501.155, the authority may: (1) provide for the better encouragement and development of drainage systems for, and provide for the drainage of, lands in the valleys of the Neches River and its tributarie…

Sec. 8501.161. POWERS RELATING TO ACQUISITION OR OPERATION OF WORKS, LAND, OR OTHER PROPERTY. (a) In acting under Section 8501.155, the authority may: (1) purchase or construct any work necessary or convenient for the exercise of the authority's powers under this chapter and to a…

Sec. 8501.162. ADDITIONAL POWERS RELATING TO ACQUISITION OR OPERATION OF PROPERTY. (a) In this section, "property" includes a right, including a water right, and includes land and a tenement, easement, improvement, reservoir, dam, canal, lateral, plant, work, and facility. (b) Th…

Sec. 8501.163. POWERS RELATING TO CONTRACT, LEASE, AGREEMENT, OR CONVEYANCE. (a) The authority may enter into a contract, lease, or other agreement necessary or convenient to carry out a power given to the authority by this chapter. (b) The authority may enter into the contract, …

Sec. 8501.164. RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) The authority may exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire fee simple title to, or an easement over or through, any land, water, or land under water that is necessary or convenient for carrying out any purpose or power given to t…

Sec. 8501.165. COORDINATION AND JOINT UNDERTAKINGS AMONG DISTRICTS. (a) A drainage, conservation, reclamation, or other district created by this state with powers provided in Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, may: (1) coordinate its plans with the authority; and (2) en…

Sec. 8501.166. NO AUTHORITY FOR TAX OR SPECIAL ASSESSMENT. This chapter does not authorize the authority to impose a tax or special assessment or to create any debt payable from taxes. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005. SUBCHAPTER E. GENERAL FINANCIAL MAT…

Sec. 8501.201. PROCEDURE FOR PAYMENT. A warrant for the payment of money by the authority may be drawn and signed by the president and the secretary-treasurer if the account under which the payment is to be made results from a contract made by the board and is ordered paid by the…

Sec. 8501.202. RECORDS RELATING TO MONEY. The secretary-treasurer shall: (1) receive and give a receipt for all money received by the authority; and (2) keep records of all money received and spent by the authority. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, eff. April 1, 2005.

Sec. 8501.203. FILING OF AUDIT. In addition to copies of the annual audit of the authority that are filed as required by Section 49.194, Water Code, a copy shall be filed with the depository of the authority and the office of the auditor. Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1277, Sec. 1, e…

Sec. 8501.204. FEES. (a) The board shall prescribe fees to be collected for: (1) the use of water; (2) a water connection; or (3) another service. (b) The board shall set the fees in amounts that are reasonable and equitable and sufficient to produce revenue adequate to pay the i…

Sec. 8501.205. LIMITATION ON USE OF REVENUE. (a) A charge on the revenue derived from the improvements and facilities of the authority may not be made if the principal or interest of any obligation issued under this chapter is unpaid. (b) If the revenue derived from the improveme…

Sec. 8501.251. POWER TO BORROW MONEY; EVIDENCE OF OBLIGATION. The authority may: (1) borrow money from any source, including an agency of the United States; and (2) issue a note, warrant, certificate of indebtedness, or other form of obligation of the authority as evidence of the…

Sec. 8501.252. OBLIGATION PAYABLE FROM REVENUE. (a) An obligation issued under this chapter by the authority may be made payable from and secured by a pledge of: (1) all the revenue derived from the operations and devices of the authority's improvements and facilities, excluding …