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.