By Counts H.B. No. 2785
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the management of spring flow from the Edwards Aquifer
1-3 and to the increase of the recharge to and the conservation of the
1-4 water taken from the Edwards Aquifer located in Kinney, Uvalde,
1-5 Medina, Bexar, Hays and Comal Counties, Texas.
1-6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-7 SECTION 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. (a) Purpose. The purpose
1-8 of this Act is to manage the spring flow from the Edwards Aquifer,
1-9 to increase the recharge to and to conserve water taken from the
1-10 Aquifer by developing supplemental sources of water, by determining
1-11 minimum spring flow requirements, by conducting engineering and
1-12 economic feasibility studies of methods to control the flow from
1-13 the Comal and San Marcos Springs, by evaluating proposals to
1-14 artificially control spring flow from the Aquifer, and by
1-15 initiating a series of fees on recreational and downstream users;
1-16 and further, to create the Kinney County Underground Water
1-17 Conservation District, to validate the creation of the Uvalde
1-18 County Underground Water Conservation District, to create the
1-19 Edwards Underground Water Conservation District and to create the
1-20 Edwards Aquifer Coordinating Board.
1-21 (b) Findings and Declaration of Policy. It is hereby found
1-22 and declared that: the management of spring flow from the Edwards
1-23 Aquifer located in Kinney, Uvalde, Medina, Bexar, Hays and Comal
2-1 Counties, Texas ("the Aquifer area") is necessary to sustain life
2-2 and the economic viability of the region; the Edwards Aquifer
2-3 located in these counties contains between 25-50 million acre feet
2-4 of water and approximately one and one-half million people
2-5 currently reside in the area and depend on water from the Aquifer
2-6 for all of their water needs; natural annual recharge to the
2-7 Aquifer has historically ranged from one-half to two and one-half
2-8 million acre feet and has historically equaled or exceeded the
2-9 water needs of the people of the area, leaving the Aquifer full and
2-10 overflowing except during periods of extended drought; overflow
2-11 from the Aquifer discharging as spring flow has contributed to
2-12 providing the habitat for several plant and animal species
2-13 designated as "endangered" or "threatened" by the U.S. Fish &
2-14 Wildlife Service (USFWS); the United States District Court for the
2-15 Western District of Texas, Midland/Odessa Division, recently issued
2-16 an order that these endangered/threatened species should be
2-17 protected (Case No. MO-91-CA-069) by assuring a continuous flow of
2-18 water from the Comal and San Marcos Springs ("the Springs") in an
2-19 amount to be determined by USFWS; if water use from the Aquifer is
2-20 restricted to a level to assure a natural discharge of water from
2-21 the Springs during a period of extended drought, serious economic
2-22 hardships would result for the residents of the Aquifer area and a
2-23 major portion of the water contained in the Aquifer would be
2-24 unavailable for their beneficial use; there is a need to provide a
2-25 continuous water supply for the endangered/threatened species as
3-1 well as to provide a water supply for state residents below the
3-2 discharge points of the Springs for those who are dependent on
3-3 spring flow to provide all or part of their water needs;
3-4 artificially managing the discharge from the Springs will make a
3-5 larger quantity of the water stored and recharged to the Aquifer
3-6 available for the use of residents of the area, while providing
3-7 adequate water to preserve the endangered/threatened species and
3-8 satisfying needs of downstream users; the demand for water from the
3-9 Aquifer will increase as the population grows; with the expected
3-10 population growth in the Aquifer area and the accompanying
3-11 increased water use, the water recharged and stored in the Aquifer
3-12 will not satisfy all water needs; new political subdivisions of the
3-13 state should be established with the powers and duties to increase
3-14 the recharge to the Aquifer, the protect the water quality of the
3-15 Aquifer, and to promote conservation; and the Aquifer is not an
3-16 underground river but is a geologic formation containing
3-17 percolating groundwater.
3-18 (c) Definitions. In this Act, (1) "Aquifer" means that
3-19 portion of the Edwards Aquifer located within the following six
3-20 counties: Hays County, Bexar County, Comal County, Medina County,
3-21 and Uvalde County; provided, however, that it does not include any
3-22 territory within the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation
3-23 District.
3-24 (2) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.
3-25 (3) "Commission" means the Texas Water Commission.
4-1 (4) "Department" means the Parks & Wildlife
4-2 Department.
4-3 (5) "Local District" means the Kinney County
4-4 Underground Water Conservation District, the Uvalde County
4-5 Underground Water Conservation District, the Medina County
4-6 Underground Water Conservation District, and the Edwards
4-7 Underground Water Conservation District.
4-8 SECTION 2. DEVELOPMENT OF A SUPPLEMENTAL SURFACE WATER
4-9 SUPPLY. (a) All cities with a population greater than 250,000
4-10 located over the Aquifer are hereby directed to develop a
4-11 supplemental surface water supply to reduce its reliance on the
4-12 Aquifer as a sole source of drinking water.
4-13 SECTION 3. MANAGEMENT OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER. (a) The
4-14 Department shall conduct a study of available information to
4-15 determine minimum spring flow requirements for the Comal and San
4-16 Marcos Springs which, based on its best professional judgment, will
4-17 preserve the endangered/threatened species found below the
4-18 discharge of the Springs. The Department shall provide the results
4-19 of the study to the United States District Court for the Western
4-20 District of Texas, Midland-Odessa Division and to the USFWS.
4-21 (b) The Board shall conduct a study to determine minimum
4-22 spring flow requirements from the Comal and San Marcos Springs
4-23 which, based on its best professional judgment, will satisfy the
4-24 water needs of the downstream users located in the counties all or
4-25 part of which are in the Guadalupe River Basin downstream of the
5-1 Springs ("the downstream users"), including the minimum water needs
5-2 of downstream bays and estuaries, taking into account those
5-3 additions of water which occur in the rivers below the Springs.
5-4 The Board shall prior to the 74th Legislative Session, report the
5-5 results of the study to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker of the
5-6 House of Representatives and Department.
5-7 (c) The Board shall complete as expeditiously as possible,
5-8 engineering and economic feasibility studies of methods to (1)
5-9 control the flow from the Springs to retain water in the Aquifer
5-10 during periods of high recharge when water in excess of the needs
5-11 of downstream users naturally flows from the Aquifer; and (2) to
5-12 provide discharge from the Springs during extended droughts when
5-13 adequate water to protect the endangered/threatened species and/or
5-14 to satisfy the downstream users is not naturally available.
5-15 (d) The Board shall evaluate suggestions made at legislative
5-16 hearings of means to artifically control spring flow from the
5-17 Aquifer, including but not limited to, controlling flow from the
5-18 Aquifer during periods of excess to retain water for release during
5-19 short-or-long-term drought by elevating the existing dams located
5-20 below the Springs or by installing flow control valves to regulate
5-21 discharge, and providing for an adequate supply of water to protect
5-22 the endangered/threatened species and to provide water for
5-23 downstream users during periods of drought by augmenting the spring
5-24 flow from wells or a surface water supply.
5-25 (e) The Department and the Commission shall apportion,
6-1 assess, and recover the reasonable costs of administering the
6-2 spring flow management program in the Aquifer from all users of
6-3 water including residential, commercial and industrial downstream
6-4 users and recreational users, including fishermen, who use the
6-5 water between the discharge points of the Comal and San Marcos
6-6 Springs and its destination in the Gulf of Mexico.
6-7 (f) The Department shall assess the following fees on users
6-8 of water for recreational and fishing purposes in order to support
6-9 the benefits such users are anticipated to receive from spring flow
6-10 augmentation and management:
6-11 (1) A fee of ____ for each boat registered with the
6-12 Department in any county located in whole or in part in the
6-13 Guadalupe River Basin downstream of Comal or San Marcos Springs.
6-14 (2) A fee of ____ for each non-commercial fishing
6-15 license issued by the Department in any county located in whole or
6-16 in part in the Guadalupe River Basin downstream of Comal or San
6-17 Marcos Springs.
6-18 (3) A fee of ____ for each commercial fishing license
6-19 issued by the Department in any county located in whole or in part
6-20 in the Guadalupe River Basin downstream of Comal or San Marcos
6-21 Springs.
6-22 (4) A fee equivalent to ____% of all fees collected by
6-23 any park district created pursuant to Act of the 76th Legislature,
6-24 Ch. 1005, which ____% fee shall be imposed by the district annually
6-25 in addition to any other fees collected by the district and paid to
7-1 the Department on or before December 31 of each year.
7-2 The Department shall adopt rules to provide for collection of
7-3 the foregoing fees.
7-4 (g) The Commission shall assess and collect an annual fee of
7-5 $____ per acre foot for all water taken pursuant to permit or other
7-6 authority from the Commission, for any purpose other than domestic,
7-7 livestock, or irrigation, between the discharge points of the
7-8 Springs and the Gulf of Mexico. The Commission shall adopt rules
7-9 to provide for the collection of this fee and payment of proceeds
7-10 of fees to the Department.
7-11 (h) The Department shall utilize the fees collected as
7-12 follows: (1) it shall pay to the Board on a quarterly basis 10% of
7-13 the fees for the costs of economic and engineering studies and
7-14 technical assistance provided by the Board; (2) it shall use 40% of
7-15 the fees collected to implement the recommendations of the Board to
7-16 manage the spring flow; (3) it shall provide, on an annual basis,
7-17 the remaining 50% of the fees collected to the Edwards Aquifer
7-18 Coordinating Board created under Section 7 of this Act for its use
7-19 to enhance recharge to the Aquifer and to promote conservation
7-20 practices.
7-21 SECTION 4. CREATION OF THE KINNEY COUNTY UNDERGROUND WATER
7-22 CONSERVATION DISTRICT. (a) Creation. Under article XVI, section
7-23 59 of the Texas Constitution, the Kinney County Underground Water
7-24 Conservation District is created, subject to approval at
7-25 confirmation elections to be held in the district. The district is
8-1 a governmental agency and body politic and corporate, authorized to
8-2 exercise the powers essential to the accomplishment of the purposes
8-3 of that constitutional provision and to exercise the rights,
8-4 powers, duties, privileges and functions provided by this Act, and
8-5 by Chapter 52 of the Water Code.
8-6 (b) Definition. In this chapter "district" means the Kinney
8-7 County Underground Water Conservation District.
8-8 (c) Boundaries. The boundaries of the district are
8-9 co-extensive with the boundaries of Kinney County, Texas.
8-10 (d) Finding of Benefit. All of the land and other property
8-11 included within the boundary of the district will be benefitted by
8-12 the work and projects that are to be accomplished by the district
8-13 under powers conferred by article XVI, section 59 of the Texas
8-14 Constitution. The district is created to serve a public use and
8-15 benefit.
8-16 (e) Purpose, Powers and Duties of the District.
8-17 (1) The district's purpose is to provide for the
8-18 conservation, preservation, protection, recharge, and prevention of
8-19 waste of the underground water of the Aquifer within the
8-20 above-stated boundaries consistent with the objective of article
8-21 XVI, section 59 of the Texas Constitution.
8-22 (2) The district has all of the rights, powers,
8-23 privileges, authority, functions, and duties provided by the
8-24 general laws of this state, including Chapters 50 and 52 of the
8-25 Water Code, applicable to underground water conservation districts
9-1 created under article XVI, section 59 of the Texas Constitution.
9-2 This Act prevails over any provision of general law that is in
9-3 conflict or inconsistent with this Act.
9-4 (3) The rights, powers, privileges, authority,
9-5 functions and duties of the district are subject to the continuing
9-6 right of the supervision of the state to be exercised by and
9-7 through the Texas Water Commission.
9-8 (f) Board of Directors.
9-9 (1) The district is governed by a board of five
9-10 directors.
9-11 (2) Temporary directors serve until initial permanent
9-12 directors are elected under Section 4(h) of this Chapter.
9-13 (3) Initial permanent directors serve until directors
9-14 are elected under Section 4(i) of this Chapter.
9-15 (4) Directors other than temporary and initial
9-16 permanent directors serve staggered four-year terms.
9-17 (5) Each director must qualify to serve as director in
9-18 the manner provided by Sections 51.078 and 51.079 of the Water
9-19 Code.
9-20 (6) A director serves until the director's successor
9-21 has qualified.
9-22 (g) Temporary Directors.
9-23 (1) The temporary board of directors for the district
9-24 is composed of:
9-25 (i) ___________________________;
10-1 (ii) ___________________________;
10-2 (iii) ___________________________;
10-3 (iv) ___________________________;
10-4 (v) ___________________________;
10-5 (2) If a temporary director fails to qualify for
10-6 office, the temporary directors who have qualified shall appoint a
10-7 person to fill the vacancy. If at any time there are fewer than
10-8 three qualified temporary directors, the Texas Water Commission
10-9 shall appoint the necessary number of persons to fill all vacancies
10-10 on the Board.
10-11 (h) Confirmation and Initial Directors' Election.
10-12 (1) Within 180 days after the effective date of this
10-13 Act, the temporary board of directors for the district shall call
10-14 and hold an election, confirm establishment of the district, and
10-15 elect the district's five initial directors.
10-16 (2) A person who desires to be a candidate for the
10-17 office of initial director may file an application with the
10-18 temporary board to have the candidate's name printed on the ballot
10-19 as provided by Section 51.075 of the Water Code.
10-20 (3) At the confirmation and the initial directors'
10-21 election, the temporary board of directors shall have the names of
10-22 the five persons serving as temporary directors placed on the
10-23 ballot together with the name of any candidate filing for the
10-24 office of director as provided by Subsection (2) of this section
10-25 and blank spaces to write in the names of other persons. The
11-1 temporary directors, at the time the vote is canvassed, shall
11-2 declare the five persons who receive the most votes to be elected
11-3 as the initial directors and shall include the results of the
11-4 directors' election in its election report to the Texas Water
11-5 Commission.
11-6 (4) Section 41.001(a) of the Election Code does not
11-7 apply to a confirmation and initial directors' election held as
11-8 provided by this section.
11-9 (5) Except as provided by this section, a confirmation
11-10 and initial directors' election must be conducted as provided by
11-11 Sections 52.058(b)-(g) of the Water Code and Tax Election Code.
11-12 (i) Election of Local District Directors. On the first
11-13 Saturday in May of the second year after the year in which the
11-14 local district is authorized to be created at a confirmation
11-15 election, an election shall be held for the election of two
11-16 directors who shall serve two-year terms and three directors who
11-17 shall each serve four-year terms. Thereafter, on the same date in
11-18 each subsequent second year, the appropriate number of directors
11-19 shall be elected to each of the boards.
11-20 (j) Tax Rate. The board of directors may not levy and
11-21 collect a maintenance tax that exceeds the rate approved by the
11-22 majority of the qualified voters voting in the election authorizing
11-23 the tax unless an election is held in the district at which a
11-24 majority of the qualified voters who vote approve a proposition
11-25 authorizing a greater rate of assessment.
12-1 (k) Tax Allocation. The district shall allocate a minimum
12-2 of 25% of the taxes collected to the Edwards Aquifer Coordinating
12-3 Board created in Section 7 of this Act to be used for the purposes
12-4 set forth in Section 7(c). The taxes shall be paid not later than
12-5 June 1 of each year.
12-6 SECTION 5. VALIDATION OF THE CREATION OF THE UVALDE COUNTY
12-7 UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT. (a) Under article XVI,
12-8 Section 59 of the Texas Constitution, the Uvalde County Underground
12-9 Water Conservation District created by order of the Uvalde County
12-10 Commissioners Court on ___, and confirmed by election on ___, is
12-11 validated as a governmental agency and body politic incorporate,
12-12 authorized to exercise the powers essential to the accomplishment
12-13 of the purposes of that constitutional provision and to exercise
12-14 the rights, powers, duties, privileges, duties, and functions
12-15 provided by this Act and by Chapter 52 of the Water Code. The
12-16 election of directors and approval of the levy of a maintenance tax
12-17 at the election held on ___ are hereby validated and confirmed in
12-18 all respects.
12-19 (b) Definition. In this Subchapter, "district" means the
12-20 Uvalde County Underground Water Conservation District.
12-21 (c) Validation. The creation of the district and all
12-22 resolutions, orders, and other acts or attempted acts of the board
12-23 of directors of the district are validated in all respects. The
12-24 creation of the district and all resolutions, orders, and other
12-25 acts, or attempted acts of the board of directors of the district
13-1 are valid as though they had originally had been legally authorized
13-2 or accomplished.
13-3 (d) Pending Litigation. The Act does not apply to or affect
13-4 litigation pending on the effective date of this Act in any court
13-5 of competent jurisdiction in this state to which the district is a
13-6 party.
13-7 (e) Tax Allocation. The district shall allocate a minimum
13-8 of 25% of the taxes collected to the Edwards Aquifer Coordinating
13-9 Board created in Subchapter 7 of this Act to be used for the
13-10 purposes set forth in Section 7.03. The taxes shall be paid not
13-11 later than June 1 of each year.
13-12 SECTION 6. CREATION OF THE EDWARDS UNDERGROUND WATER
13-13 CONSERVATION DISTRICT. (a) Chapter 99, Acts of the 56th
13-14 Legislature, Regular Session, 1959 is amended by adding Section 19
13-15 to read as follows:
13-16 SECTION 19. DISSOLUTION OF EDWARDS UNDERGROUND WATER
13-17 DISTRICT AND CONVERSION TO EDWARDS UNDERGROUND WATER CONSERVATION
13-18 DISTRICT. The Edwards Underground Water District (1) shall be
13-19 dissolved and all its property and funds shall be transferred to
13-20 the Edwards Underground Water Conservation District within 90 days
13-21 of the effective date this Act; (2) the district is comprised of
13-22 those portions of Bexar, Comal and Hays Counties currently in the
13-23 Edwards Underground Water District; and (3) the district is a
13-24 governmental agency and body politic corporate, authorized to
13-25 exercise the powers essential to the accomplishment of the purposes
14-1 of article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution and to
14-2 exercise the rights, powers, duties, privileges and functions
14-3 provided by this Act and by Chapter 52 of the Water Code.
14-4 (b) The existing Board of Directors of the Edwards
14-5 Underground Water District shall continue to serve as temporary
14-6 directors of the Edwards Underground Water Conservation District
14-7 until new directors can be elected pursuant to the provisions of
14-8 Chapter 52 of the Water Code, which election shall occur on the
14-9 date next regularly scheduled for election of directors of the
14-10 Edwards Underground Water District.
14-11 (c) Edwards Underground Water Conservation District shall
14-12 allocate a minimum of 25% of the taxes collected to the Edwards
14-13 Aquifer Coordinating Board created in Section 7 of this Act to be
14-14 used for the purposes set forth in Section 7(c). Taxes shall be
14-15 paid not later than June 1 of each year. The temporary Board of
14-16 Directors of Edwards Underground Water Conservation District shall
14-17 transfer 25% of all cash and cash equivalent assets existing on
14-18 June 1, 1993, to the Edwards Aquifer Coordinating Board not later
14-19 than December 31, 1993.
14-20 SECTION 7. CREATION OF THE EDWARDS AQUIFER COORDINATING
14-21 BOARD. (a) Creation. The Edwards Aquifer Coordinating Board
14-22 (EACB) is created under and is essential to accomplish the purposes
14-23 of article XVI, Section 59 of the Texas Constitution and shall
14-24 provide management and technical assistance to local districts and
14-25 promote conservation and effective management of the Aquifer. The
15-1 EACB may make recommendations to the local districts; it shall not
15-2 implement any plans or programs itself. EACB has only the powers
15-3 expressly authorized below; has no authority over the local
15-4 districts.
15-5 (b) Members. The board of directors of EACB shall have six
15-6 members including one from the Kinney County Underground Water
15-7 Conservation District, the Uvalde County Underground Water
15-8 Conservation District validated by this Act, and the Medina
15-9 Underground Water Conservation District. Each of the three
15-10 underground water conservation districts shall select from its
15-11 board one person to serve on the EACB. The Edwards Underground
15-12 Water Conservation District may appoint three members from its
15-13 board of directors to the EACB provided that they reside in and
15-14 represent the three different counties which comprise that
15-15 district.
15-16 (c) Purposes. The EACB has the following purposes:
15-17 (1) Identify all potential recharge sites above the
15-18 Aquifer and undertake studies to determine the amount of recharge
15-19 that could occur if recharge facilities were installed;
15-20 (2) Determine the feasibility of additional techniques
15-21 or methods to recharge the Aquifer, including but not limited to,
15-22 brush control, precipitation enhancement and importation of water
15-23 from outside the Aquifer area;
15-24 (3) Evaluate the possible water savings to be achieved
15-25 through providing technical and financial assistance to irrigators
16-1 for improving the water use efficiency of their irrigation systems;
16-2 (4) Construct recharge facilities and implement the
16-3 use of such techniques or methods of Aquifer recharge, enhancement
16-4 and conservation judged to be most beneficial and cost efficient to
16-5 the management of the Aquifer;
16-6 (5) Assist in coordinating activities of all local
16-7 districts by conducting public meetings to share management plans
16-8 and provide financial support and technical assistance to local
16-9 districts which are implementing programs and activities outside
16-10 their respective counties to benefit the users of water from the
16-11 Aquifer.
16-12 (d) Powers.
16-13 (1) The EACB shall have the authority to maintain an
16-14 office, employ a general manager and such other employees as it may
16-15 be determined to be necessary, and to exercise such other powers as
16-16 are reasonably necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Act.
16-17 This subsection shall not, however, be construed as a grant of
16-18 regulatory authority to the EACB.
16-19 (2) The EACB shall have the authority to own property,
16-20 but only to the limited extent necessary to effectuate the purposes
16-21 of this Act.
16-22 (3) The EACB shall have the authority to enter into
16-23 contracts with water districts, conservation districts, cities and
16-24 towns, counties and municipal and governmental agencies of every
16-25 kind, both state and federal, and with individuals and private
17-1 corporations, but only to the limited extent necessary to
17-2 effectuate the purposes of this Act.
17-3 (4) The EACB shall have the authority to receive any
17-4 gifts, grants or donations made to it.
17-5 (5) The EACB may:
17-6 (i) Provide technical assistance to the local
17-7 districts;
17-8 (ii) Provide geologic and hydrologic information
17-9 to the local districts;
17-10 (iii) Conduct research;
17-11 (iv) Collect data;
17-12 (v) Analyze water quality and water levels;
17-13 (vi) Develop and distribute educational programs
17-14 regarding the Aquifer, water quality, and conservation;
17-15 (vii) Plan and recommend to the local districts
17-16 recharge projects, including dam construction and brush clearing;
17-17 (viii) Recommend, provide incentives for, and
17-18 assist municipalities and others with implementation of wastewater
17-19 reuse programs; and
17-20 (ix) Develop, study, and recommend artificial
17-21 recharge enhancement programs throughout the local districts.
17-22 (6) The EACB shall consider and develop plans to
17-23 protect endangered/threatened species found in Comal or San Marcos
17-24 Springs. The EACB shall report its recommendations for plans to
17-25 protect endangered/threatened species to the local districts; it
18-1 shall not implement plans except upon approval by local districts.
18-2 Such plans may include spring flow augmentation through
18-3 construction and operation of wells, to preserve local industry and
18-4 protect endangered/threatened species.
18-5 SECTION 8. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS. (a) Legislative
18-6 Review. The Legislature shall review the progress of all parties
18-7 under this Act in managing the waters from the Aquifer during each
18-8 regular legislative session until such time as it determines that
18-9 the water from the Aquifer is being managed adequately to satisfy
18-10 the needs of all water users in the state.
18-11 (b) Findings Relating to Procedural Requirements.
18-12 (1) The proper and legal notice of the intention to
18-13 introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this
18-14 Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
18-15 copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
18-16 officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
18-17 by the constitution and other laws of this state, including the
18-18 governor, who has submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Water
18-19 Commission.
18-20 (2) The Texas Water Commission has filed its
18-21 recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, lieutenant
18-22 governor, and speaker of the house of representatives within the
18-23 required time.
18-24 (3) All requirements of the constitution and laws of
18-25 this state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with
19-1 respect to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are
19-2 fulfilled and accomplished.
19-3 SECTION 9. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation
19-4 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
19-5 emergency and an imperative public necessity (1) that the
19-6 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three days in
19-7 each house be suspended and this rule is hereby suspended; and (2)
19-8 that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
19-9 passage, and it is so enacted.