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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the proposal by the Texas Water Development Board of a |
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process to identify and evaluate multiregional water supply |
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projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. REPORT. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. |
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(2) "Multiregional water supply project" means a water |
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supply project that has the potential to serve more than one |
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regional water planning area and: |
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(A) create greater yields of water at a lower |
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unit cost due to economies of scale; or |
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(B) provide strategic water reserves for the |
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state's long-term water needs. |
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(b) Not later than December 1, 2024, the board shall submit |
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to the legislature a report that: |
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(1) proposes the framework for the addition of a new |
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state-level planning component to the existing regional water |
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planning process that would identify and evaluate multiregional |
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water supply projects; and |
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(2) contains a general outline for a potential work |
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plan, timeline, and estimated cost for the implementation of the |
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planning component proposed by Subdivision (1) of this subsection. |
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(c) In developing the multiregional planning component |
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framework described by Subsection (b)(1) of this section, the board |
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shall consider: |
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(1) the currently adopted regional and state water |
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plans; |
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(2) potentially available unused or new water sources, |
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including sources related to flooding and seawater; |
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(3) information that is readily available regarding |
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potential multiregional water supply projects; |
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(4) the potential of multiregional water supply |
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projects to: |
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(A) provide water supplies beyond the 50-year |
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state water planning horizon; and |
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(B) address droughts worse than the drought of |
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record; and |
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(5) other relevant factors as determined by the board. |
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(d) In developing the report required by Subsection (b) of |
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this section, the board may: |
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(1) consult with the interregional planning council |
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established by Section 16.052, Water Code; and |
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(2) contract for research and technical services as |
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needed in developing the proposed framework for the multiregional |
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planning component of the state water plan. |
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SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. This Act expires January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |