Sec. 20.001. LEGISLATIVE PURPOSE AND POLICY. (a) The legislature declares that it is the policy of the state to:

(1) encourage and assist in the conservation and development of the water resources of the state for all useful and lawful purposes by the acquisition, improvement, extension, or construction of water resource conservation and development projects;

(2) encourage the optimum development of the feasible sites available for the construction or enlargement of dams and reservoirs for conservation of the public water of the state held in trust for the use and benefit of the public through assistance and participation in the acquisition and development of water storage facilities and systems or works necessary for filtration, treatment, and transportation of water from storage to points of treatment, filtration, and distribution;

(3) aid in the protection of the quality of the water resources of the state by encouraging and assisting in the financing of water quality enhancement projects; and

(4) aid in flood control, drainage, subsidence control, recharge, chloride control, agricultural soil and water conservation, and desalinization by encouraging and assisting in the financing of projects necessary to those purposes.

(b) The legislature finds that existing mechanisms for implementing the policies stated in Subsection (a) of this section may be enhanced by financing as provided in this subchapter.

(c) The legislature finds that to enhance the ability of the state to aid in the accomplishment of the purposes stated in Subsection (a) of this section, it is necessary to create a water resources finance authority for the purpose of increasing the availability of financing by purchasing political subdivision bonds, and the legislature declares that the creation of the authority for this purpose is a public purpose and a use for which public money may be borrowed, spent, advanced, loaned, granted, or appropriated, and that this use serves a public purpose in improving or otherwise benefitting the people of this state. Also, the legislature determines and declares the necessity of enacting this subchapter is in the public interest.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 728, Sec. 1, eff. June 20, 1987.