JBM C.S.H.B. 162 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS NATURAL RESOURCES C.S.H.B. 162 By: Krusee 3-26-97 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND In 1995, the Texas Legislature added Lampasas County to the full service area of the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA). Currently, Williamson County is included only in the electric service area of the LCRA while receiving its water services from the Brazos River Authority (BRA). Also, in 1995, a historic agreement was signed by the BRA and LCRA which created the "Alliance" to cooperate on the conservation, planning and development of regional water resources in Williamson County. In 1996 and 1997, the Alliance signed agreements with the cities of Cedar Park and Round Rock creating a regional wastewater authority whose facilities the Alliance will finance, construct and operate. In order to continue planning for the efficient allocation and protection of water resources for the Central Texas region, Williamson County needs to be included with Lampasas County in the full service area of the LCRA. PURPOSE To allow the LCRA to exercise all powers within Williamson County that it may otherwise exercise in its district, while prohibiting water or wastewater services in the portion of Williamson County outside the Colorado River watershed without the consent of the BRA. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the LCRA Act (Article 8280-107, V.T.C.S.) by adding a new Section 27 to provide as follows: (a) Allows the LCRA to take certain actions to provide water services in Williamson County in cooperation with another special district, municipality, or another governmental entity. (b) Provides that the LCRA may not provide water services in the watershed of the Brazos River without the consent of the BRA. (c) Provides that the LCRA may transfer surface water from the district to a place in Williamson County that is outside the watershed of the Colorado River only if the transfer is made to a municipality that is a district water customer on the effective date of this section, and it is located in the watersheds of both the Colorado River and the Brazos River. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: Upon passage. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE In Section 1, the original bill amended Section 26 of the LCRA Act to include Williamson County as an area where the LCRA may exercise its powers specified in Section 1 of the LCRA Act, and providing that it must obtain consent from the BRA to provide water or wastewater services to Williamson County. In the Section 1 of the committee substitute, Section 26 of the LCRA Act is not amended. Rather, a new Section 27 is added to the LCRA Act. Subsections (a) and (b) of the new Section 27 are similar to Section 1 of the original, providing that the LCRA may provide water services in Williamson County with the BRA's consent. Also in Section 1, the substitute adds a new subsection (c) to proposed Section 27 of the LCRA that stipulates that the LCRA may transfer surface water to a place in Williamson County that is outside the watershed of the Colorado River only if the transfer is made to a municipality that is a district water customer on the effective date of this section and is located in the watersheds of both the Colorado River and the Brazos River. This provision was not in the original.