SB 479 - House Committee Substitute Summary

- House Committee Substitute -

HCS/SB 479 - This act allows for organization of water districts by simple majority vote if the petition to form the district specifies that it is without authority to issue general obligation bonds. Any decree relating to the formation of such a water district must state that the district does not have the authority to issue general revenue bonds.

Currently, there is a requirement of a two-thirds majority vote before the water district is formed. The act allows for simple majority only if the water district specifies that it is without authority to issue bonds. Also, there are no current requirements that any judicial decrees dealing with the organization of a water district provide the lack of authority to issue bonds.

The act also adds a provision that the Clean Water Commission of the State of Missouri may by rule adopt a rebuttable presumption that streams located within one mile upstream of an ascertained "losing stream", may also be determined a "losing stream".

CHARLES HATCHER