Sec. 51.150. CONTRACTS WITH OTHER DISTRICTS OR WATER SUPPLY CORPORATIONS. (a) In this section, "authorized water district" means a district created under Section 52(b)(1) or (2), Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.

(b) A district may enter into a contract with an authorized water district or a water supply corporation that authorizes the district to acquire, through the issuance of debt or other means, and convey to the authorized water district or water supply corporation all or part of a water supply, treatment, or distribution system, a sanitary sewage collection or treatment system, or works or improvements necessary for drainage of land in the district. The contract may:

(1) permit the district to rehabilitate, repair, maintain, improve, enlarge, or extend any existing facilities to be conveyed to the authorized water district or water supply corporation; or

(2) require the district to pay impact fees or other fees to the authorized water district or water supply corporation for capacity or service in facilities of the authorized water district or water supply corporation.

(c) The contract entered into under Subsection (b) may authorize the authorized water district or water supply corporation to purchase the water, sewer, or drainage system from the district through periodic payments to the district in amounts that, combined with the net income of the district, are sufficient for the district to pay the principal of and interest on any bonds of the district. The contract may provide that the payments due under this subsection:

(1) are payable from and secured by a pledge of all or part of the revenues of the water, sewer, or drainage system;

(2) are payable from taxes to be imposed by the authorized water district; or

(3) are payable from a combination of the revenues and taxes described by Subdivisions (1) and (2).

(d) The contract may authorize the authorized water district or water supply corporation to operate the water, sewer, or drainage system conveyed by the district under Subsection (b).

(e) The contract may require the district to make available to the authorized water district or water supply corporation all or part of the raw or treated water to be used for the provision of services within the district.

(f) If the contract provides for the water, sewer, or drainage system to be conveyed to the authorized water district or water supply corporation on or after the completion of construction, the authorized water district or water supply corporation may pay the district to provide water, sewer, or drainage services to residents of the authorized water district or customers of the water supply corporation.

(g) The contract may authorize the district to convey to the authorized water district or water supply corporation at no cost a water, sewer, or drainage system and require the authorized water district or water supply corporation to use all or part of those systems to provide retail service to customers within the district in accordance with the laws of this state and any certificate of convenience and necessity of the authorized water district or water supply corporation.

(h) A contract under this section must be approved by a majority vote of the governing bodies of the district and the authorized water district or water supply corporation. If Section 52, Article III, or Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, requires that qualified voters of the district approve the imposition of a tax by the district or the authorized water district, the district or the authorized water district shall call an election for that purpose.

Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 962 (H.B. 1644), Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 2005.

Sec. 51.156. CONTRACT WITH THE UNITED STATES. (a) The board of a district organized under the provisions of Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas Constitution to irrigate arid land may contract with the United States for the investigation, construction, extension, operation, and maintenance of any federal reclamation project of benefit to the district and authorized under the National Reclamation Act of 1902, as amended.

(b) The board may contract to secure a district water supply from the federal reclamation project and to pay to the United States the agreed cost of it in the form of construction charges, operation and maintenance charges, and water rental charges, as shown by the contract and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the national reclamation law.

Acts 1971, 62nd Leg., p. 110, ch. 58, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1971.