By Janek                                              H.B. No. 2521
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Coastal
    1-3  Subsidence District to require the discontinuance of groundwater
    1-4  use.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  Chapter 151, Subchapter D, Section 151.129,
    1-7  Subsection (a), Texas Water Code, is amended to read as follows:
    1-8        (a)  The board may not issue an order requiring a person to
    1-9  completely or partially discontinue the use of groundwater unless
   1-10  the person is able to acquire a water supply that is composed of
   1-11  surface water needed to replace the water supply covered by the
   1-12  order<.> and the economic cost of converting to the surface water
   1-13  supply is clearly outweighed by the beneficial effect on subsidence
   1-14  measurably resulting from such order.  This section does not limit
   1-15  the board's authority to issue orders and rules requiring a person
   1-16  to reduce groundwater use by eliminating waste or implementing
   1-17  water conservation.
   1-18        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-19  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-20  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-21  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-22  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   1-23  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-1  passage, and it is so enacted.