By:  Duncan                                           S.B. No. 1638

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to the conversion of El Paso County Water Authority to a

 1-2     municipal utility district.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  In this Act, "district" means the El Paso County

 1-5     Water Authority.

 1-6           SECTION 2.  The conversion of the El Paso County Water

 1-7     Authority to a municipal utility district operating pursuant to

 1-8     Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, as authorized by order of the Texas

 1-9     Water Commission, the predecessor in authority to the Texas Natural

1-10     Resource Conservation Commission, is hereby validated.

1-11           SECTION 3.  The district may make and enforce rules to

1-12     provide for conserving, preserving, protecting, and recharging of

1-13     groundwater or of a groundwater reservoir or its subdivisions.  The

1-14     rules may apply only to groundwater within the district's

1-15     designated boundaries.  The rules may regulate the spacing and

1-16     production of wells within the district.  The rules may require

1-17     permits for drilling, equipping, or completing of wells or for

1-18     substantially altering the size of wells or well pumps.  Permits

1-19     may be issued subject to the rules promulgated by the district and

1-20     subject to terms and provisions regarding the drilling, equipping,

1-21     completion, or alteration of wells or well pumps as necessary to

 2-1     conserve groundwater, prevent waste, minimize to the extent

 2-2     practicable the drawdown of the water table or the reduction of

 2-3     artesian pressure, lessen interference between wells, or control

 2-4     subsidence.  Rules promulgated under this section are subject to

 2-5     exceptions and limitations as may exist under the general law of

 2-6     the State.

 2-7           SECTION 4.  The district may make surveys and carry out

 2-8     research projects with regard to groundwater as deemed necessary by

 2-9     the board.  The district shall develop a comprehensive management

2-10     plan for the most efficient use of groundwater within its

2-11     boundaries, for preventing waste of groundwater, and for

2-12     controlling subsidence.

2-13           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-14     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-15     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-16     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-17     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-18     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-19     passage, and it is so enacted.