Title SD, Special District Local Laws Code

Sec. 8513.0105. TERRITORY. Unless modified under Subchapter J, Chapter 49, Water Code, or other law, the authority's territory includes all of that part of this state in the boundaries of Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad Counties. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.…

Sec. 8513.0106. EFFECT OF CHAPTER ON CERTAIN PERSONS OR ENTITIES. (a) If any power granted to the authority by this chapter overlaps or conflicts with any power of the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority, the power granted to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority supersedes the power…

Sec. 8513.0107. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This chapter shall be liberally construed to effect its purposes. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.

Sec. 8513.0108. CORRECTION OF INVALID PROCEDURES. If the board determines that any procedure under this chapter violates the Texas Constitution or the United States Constitution, the board by ordinance may provide an alternative procedure that conforms with the constitution. Adde…

Sec. 8513.0201. DIRECTORS; TERMS; QUALIFICATIONS. (a) The board consists of 12 directors elected as follows: (1) two directors elected at large from Goliad County; (2) two directors elected at large from Karnes County; (3) two directors elected at large from Wilson County; (4) tw…

Sec. 8513.0202. DIRECTOR ELECTIONS. (a) The authority shall hold an election to elect the appropriate number of directors on the uniform election date in November of each odd-numbered year. (b) The placing of the names of the candidates on the ballots shall be determined by lot. …

Sec. 8513.02025. CERTAIN DIRECTOR TERMS. (a) This section applies only to the term of a director who is appointed or elected on or after May 24, 2023. (b) The two at-large director positions for Bexar County shall be scheduled for election on the November uniform election date in…

Sec. 8513.0203. SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL. (a) A director or officer may be suspended or removed from office for: (1) incompetency; (2) official misconduct; (3) official gross negligence; (4) habitual drunkenness; or (5) nonattendance at six consecutive regular board meetings. (b) A…

Sec. 8513.0204. VACANCY. The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall fill a vacancy on the board for the unexpired term. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.

Sec. 8513.0205. BYLAWS. The board shall adopt bylaws for the management of the authority's affairs. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.

Sec. 8513.0206. ORDINANCES. (a) The board may, by a majority and to the extent necessary to exercise the authority's powers and rights, adopt an ordinance: (1) not adequately provided by Chapter 49 or 51, Water Code; (2) germane and appropriate to the accomplishment and purposes …

Sec. 8513.0207. BOND REQUIREMENT FOR DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. (a) Not later than the 15th day after the date of an election or appointment of a director or officer, the director or officer shall file a good and sufficient bond with the board secretary. (b) The bond must be: (1) in…

Sec. 8513.0208. FILING OF OATH. Before assuming the duties of office, each director shall file with the board secretary a copy of the constitutional oath of office taken by the director. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.

Sec. 8513.0209. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS. (a) A director is entitled to receive reimbursement for reasonable expenses and an allowance as provided under Section 49.060, Water Code. (b) A director is not entitled to receive a per diem allowance for more than 60 days in a fiscal y…

Sec. 8513.0210. CERTAIN INTERESTS PROHIBITED. (a) A director may not engage in a transaction with the authority for gain or profit. (b) An officer of the authority may not have any interest, direct or indirect, in any contract awarded by the authority. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Le…

Sec. 8513.0211. OFFICERS. (a) The board shall appoint by majority vote a chair, a vice chair, a secretary, a treasurer, and other officers or assistant officers the board considers necessary. (b) The chair, the vice chair, the secretary, and the treasurer must each be a director.…

Sec. 8513.0212. DIRECTOR TRAINING PROGRAM. (a) A person who is elected or appointed to and qualifies for office as a director may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a director in attendance at a board meeting until the person completes a training program that complies with th…

Sec. 8513.0213. MEETINGS. (a) Regular and special board meetings shall be held as provided by general law and the bylaws. (b) Notice of regular and special board meetings shall be given as required by general law and the bylaws. (c) All meetings of the board shall be open to the …

Sec. 8513.0214. POLICIES TO SEPARATE POLICY-MAKING AND STAFF FUNCTIONS. The board shall develop and implement policies that clearly separate the board's policy-making responsibilities and the management responsibilities of the manager and authority staff. Added by Acts 2025, 89th…

Sec. 8513.0215. AGENTS, EMPLOYEES, AND PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANTS. (a) The authority may appoint agents, employees, and professional consultants, prescribe their duties, and set their compensation. (b) An agent, employee, or professional consultant may not have any interest, direct…

Sec. 8513.0216. MANAGER. (a) The board may employ a manager to be the authority's chief executive officer. (b) The board shall set the compensation to be paid to the manager. (c) The manager shall employ and supervise, subject to policies promulgated by the board, all employees, …

Sec. 8513.0217. AUTHORITY'S DOMICILE AND OFFICE. The general office and place of domicile of the authority shall be in the City of San Antonio, Bexar County. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.

Sec. 8513.0218. COMPLAINTS. (a) The authority shall maintain a system to act promptly and efficiently on complaints filed with the authority. (b) The authority shall maintain information about: (1) the parties to the complaint; (2) the subject matter of the complaint; (3) a summa…

Sec. 8513.0219. PUBLIC TESTIMONY AT BOARD MEETINGS. 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.…

Sec. 8513.0220. CONTRACT WITH BEXAR COUNTY. (a) This section applies only to a contract between the authority and the Commissioners Court of Bexar County entered into before May 26, 1961, to finance the construction of certain flood control and soil conservation works of improvem…

Sec. 8513.0301. GENERAL POWERS. (a) The authority shall: (1) administer this chapter; and (2) use the authority's facilities and powers to accomplish the purposes of this chapter. (b) The authority may: (1) exercise the powers, rights, privileges, and functions in this chapter; (…

Sec. 8513.0302. TITLE AND RIGHT OF CONTROL; TRUST. (a) The authority is vested with such title and right of control to the extent the state has, or may have, title and right of control of: (1) the natural bed and banks of the entirety of the San Antonio River; (2) a tributary of …

Sec. 8513.0303. POWERS RELATING TO CONSERVATION AND BENEFICIAL USE OF WATER. (a) The authority has the powers of this state under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, to: (1) effectuate: (A) the construction, maintenance, and operation of navigable canals or waterways; (B…

Sec. 8513.0304. POWERS REGARDING CANALS, WATERWAYS, AND RELATED FACILITIES. The authority may: (1) promote, construct, maintain and operate, make practicable, or aid and encourage the construction, maintenance, and operation of navigable canals or waterways and all navigational s…

Sec. 8513.0305. FEDERALLY CONSTRUCTED OR MAINTAINED CANALS, WATERWAYS, AND FACILITIES. If the construction or maintenance and operation of navigable canals or waterways and all navigational systems or facilities auxiliary to navigable canals or waterways on the San Antonio River …

Sec. 8513.0306. POWER TO CONTROL, DEVELOP, STORE, AND USE WATER FOR NAVIGATIONAL USE. (a) The authority may control, develop, store, and use the natural flow and floodwaters of the San Antonio River and its tributaries for the purpose of operating and maintaining: (1) navigable c…

Sec. 8513.0307. POWERS RELATING TO PARKS, RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, AND PRESERVATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. (a) The authority may acquire: (1) additional land adjacent to a permanent improvement constructed inside the authority for the purpose of developing parks or recreational fa…

Sec. 8513.0308. POWERS RELATING TO FLOOD CONTROL AND FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT. (a) The authority shall prevent and aid in the prevention of damage to persons and property by the overflow of any rivers, streams, or tributaries of those rivers and streams within the authority. (b) Th…

Sec. 8513.0309. ACQUISITION OF WATER OR WATER RIGHTS. (a) The authority may acquire water appropriation permits or certified filings within or outside the authority directly from the commission or from permit owners. (b) The authority may purchase water, water supply facilities, …

Sec. 8513.0310. GENERAL WATER SUPPLY POWERS. (a) The authority, inside or outside its boundaries, may: (1) construct, acquire, equip, acquire storage rights at, operate, or maintain a dam or reservoir; (2) construct, operate, maintain, or otherwise provide water supply lines, wat…

Sec. 8513.0311. CONTRACTS TO SUPPLY WATER AND OPERATE FACILITIES. (a) The authority may contract with a user of water inside or outside the authority for services for which the authority may charge, including standby service and delivery of water. (b) The authority may contract w…

Sec. 8513.0312. POWERS RELATING TO SOIL CONSERVATION. (a) The authority may act as a local sponsoring agent for or otherwise aid and supplement upstream soil and water conservation and flood prevention projects authorized by a state or federal agency in conjunction with a soil an…

Sec. 8513.0313. WASTE MANAGEMENT. (a) As a necessary aid to the conservation, control, preservation, purification, and distribution of surface water and groundwater within the authority, the authority may, within the San Antonio River Basin: (1) construct, own, operate, maintain,…

Sec. 8513.0314. POLLUTION PREVENTION. (a) The authority may study, correct, and control pollution, including natural, artificial, organic, inorganic, and thermal pollution, of the groundwater and surface water within the San Antonio River Basin. (b) The authority may not adopt or…

Sec. 8513.0315. FORESTATION AND REFORESTATION. The authority may forest, reforest, or aid in foresting or reforesting of all areas within the authority. Added by Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 240 (H.B. 2692), Sec. 1, eff. May 29, 2025.

Sec. 8513.0316. GENERAL AUTHORITY TO MAKE CONTRACTS AND EXECUTE INSTRUMENTS. The authority may enter into a contract or execute an instrument necessary or convenient to exercising a power, right, privilege, or function conferred on the authority by this chapter. Added by Acts 202…

Sec. 8513.0317. AWARD OF CERTAIN WATER SUPPLY CONTRACTS. (a) This section applies to: (1) a wholesale contract for: (A) the sale, purchase, procurement, distribution, or supply of water or conservation storage capacity; or (B) construction of a navigable canal or waterway; or (2)…

Sec. 8513.0318. AWARD OF CERTAIN CONSTRUCTION AND SERVICE CONTRACTS. (a) The board shall award any construction, maintenance, operation, or repair contract, contract for the purchase of material, equipment, or supplies, or contract for services if the contract will require an est…

Sec. 8513.0319. ACQUISITION, MAINTENANCE, AND OPERATION OF PROPERTY; EMINENT DOMAIN. (a) The authority may acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or any other manner and maintain, use, and operate property of any kind inside or outside the authority necessary to the exercise of the po…

Sec. 8513.0320. PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATIONS AND SURVEYS. (a) The authority may make preliminary investigations and surveys in the manner and for the purposes specified in Chapters 49 and 51, Water Code, or other applicable general law. (b) The authority may make a preliminary inve…

Sec. 8513.0321. SALE, LEASE, MORTGAGE, OR OTHER DISPOSITION OF AUTHORITY PROPERTY. (a) The authority may not: (1) mortgage or otherwise encumber authority property of any kind, or any interest in authority property; or (2) acquire any property or interest in property subject to a…