By:  Zaffirini                                        S.B. No. 1129
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to the approval of land application of wastewater sludge.
    1-2        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-3        SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Water Commission, its successor,
    1-4  or another state agency may not approve a plan or issue a permit
    1-5  for or otherwise authorize the land application of wastewater
    1-6  sludge that contains heavy metals concentrations that significantly
    1-7  exceed concentrations normal to sludges demonstrated to be
    1-8  effective on Texas soils before January 1, 1995.  In addition, the
    1-9  commission, its successor, or another state agency may not approve
   1-10  a plan or issue a permit for or otherwise authorize the land
   1-11  application of such sludge after January 1, 1995, until the
   1-12  commission has obtained from a qualified research institute
   1-13  knowledgeable about Texas crops and soils a comprehensive study of
   1-14  the potential adverse effects of that application and has
   1-15  considered the results of the study.
   1-16        (b)  The Texas Water Commission or its successor shall select
   1-17  a qualified research institute knowledgeable about Texas crops and
   1-18  soils to prepare, according to guidelines established by the
   1-19  commission or its successor, a comprehensive study of the land
   1-20  application of wastewater sludge described in Subsection (a) of
   1-21  this section.  The study shall be completed and a final report
   1-22  delivered to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker
   1-23  of the house of representatives not later than September 1, 1996.
    2-1        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-2  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-3  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-4  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-5  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-6  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-7  passage, and it is so enacted.