By: Ratliff S.B. No. 651 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to an exemption from the requirement to obtain a water use 1-2 permit for certain reservoirs used in surface coal mining 1-3 operations. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 11.142, Water Code, is amended by adding 1-6 Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-7 (c) Without obtaining a permit, a person may construct or 1-8 maintain a reservoir for the sole purpose of sediment control as 1-9 part of a surface coal mining operation under the Texas Surface 1-10 Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (Article 5920-11, Vernon's Texas 1-11 Civil Statutes). 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.