Enrolled Bill Summary

Senate Bill 2529	Senate Author:  Estes
Effective:  9-1-09	House Sponsor:  Phillips

            Senate Bill 2529 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to create the Red River Groundwater Conservation District, coextensive with the boundaries of Grayson and Fannin Counties. The bill grants the district general law powers and duties applicable to groundwater conservation districts, except as otherwise provided by the bill. The bill prohibits the district from imposing a tax. The district is authorized to assess a production fee based on the amount of groundwater authorized by permit to be withdrawn from certain wells that may not exceed $1 per acre-foot annually for groundwater used for agricultural purposes or 30 cents per 1,000 gallons annually for groundwater used for nonagricultural purposes. The district may impose an additional fee for a violation of district rules in lieu of or in addition to other available remedies, but that fee may not exceed an amount equal to 10 times the amount of the production fee. Senate Bill 2529 sets out standard provisions relating to well spacing requirements and the power to exempt wells from permitting requirements. It prohibits the district from imposing more restrictive permit conditions on transporters of water out of the district than the district imposes on existing in-district users.