By:  Ratliff                                           S.B. No. 650
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
                                        AN ACT
    1-1  relating to the regulation of nonpoint source water pollution,
    1-2  stormwater discharges, wet weather water quality standards and
    1-3  control of sanitary sewer overflows.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended
    1-6  by adding a new Section 26.0271 to read as follows:
    1-7        Sec. 26.0271.  NONPOINT SOURCE AND WET WEATHER WATER QUALITY.
    1-8  (a)  The Commission shall not adopt any regulation to address
    1-9  nonpoint source water pollution, stormwater discharges, wet weather
   1-10  water quality standards, or control of sanitary sewer overflows
   1-11  that exceeds applicable federal law, policy, regulations, or
   1-12  standards addressing the same issue.
   1-13        (b)  If the Commission proposes a regulation concerning
   1-14  nonpoint source water pollution, stormwater discharges, wet weather
   1-15  water quality standards, or control of sanitary sewer overflows, it
   1-16  shall include in the proposal a legal analysis demonstrating that
   1-17  the proposed rule does not exceed applicable federal law, policy,
   1-18  regulations, or standards addressing the same issue.
   1-19        (c)  In implementing regulations to address nonpoint source
   1-20  water pollution, stormwater discharges, wet weather water quality
   1-21  standards, or control of sanitary sewer overflows, the Commission
   1-22  shall employ the maximum flexibility allowed under the federal law,
   1-23  policy, regulations, or standards addressing the same issue; shall
    2-1  take into consideration the financial conditions and constraints of
    2-2  local governments affected thereby; and shall allow such local
    2-3  governments ample time to design and develop cost-effective control
    2-4  methods or facilities before initiating enforcement actions.
    2-5        SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-6  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-7  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-8  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-9  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.