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.