By:  Sims                                             S.B. No. 1203
       73R5467 JJT-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the location of disposal wells for oil and gas waste.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 27.031, Water Code, is amended to read as
    1-5  follows:
    1-6        Sec. 27.031.  PERMIT FROM RAILROAD COMMISSION.  (a)  No
    1-7  person may continue using a disposal well or begin drilling a
    1-8  disposal well or converting an existing well into a disposal well
    1-9  to dispose of oil and gas waste without first obtaining a permit
   1-10  from the railroad commission.
   1-11        (b)  The railroad commission may not issue a permit for a
   1-12  disposal well for oil and gas waste unless the well is located
   1-13  one-half mile or more from the nearest lake, river, stream, or a
   1-14  tributary to a lake, river, or stream.
   1-15        SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
   1-16  to a permit for a disposal well for the injection of waste from the
   1-17  production of oil or gas the application for which is filed with
   1-18  the Railroad Commission of Texas on or after the effective date of
   1-19  this Act.
   1-20        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-21  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-22  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-23  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-24  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-1  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-2  passage, and it is so enacted.