By Kuempel                                            H.B. No. 1374
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to an exemption from the water use permitting process for
    1-3  reservoirs constructed as part of a surface mining operation.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Chapter 11, Texas Water Code, is amended by
    1-6  adding Section 11.142(c) to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 11.142. (c)  Without obtaining a permit, a person may
    1-8  construct, reconstruct, or maintain a reservoir for the sole
    1-9  purpose of sediment control as part of a surface mining operation,
   1-10  as required by the Surface Coal Mining Regulations of the Railroad
   1-11  Commission of Texas.
   1-12        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-13        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-14  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-15  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-16  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-17  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.