HBA-NMO H.B. 2199 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2199 By: Chisum Natural Resources 7/30/1999 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Panhandle Ground Water Conservation District, Number Three, South of the Canadian River, in Texas (district), originally included Carson, Gray, and part of Potter counties. The district now includes six counties and parts of three other counties in the northeast panhandle. When created, the district primarily exercised jurisdiction over parts of the Ogallala Aquifer. However, as the district annexed other territory, its groundwater resources expanded to include parts of other water resources. The original enabling legislation for the district does not expressly grant the district jurisdiction over these water resources. H.B. 2199 deletes "Number Three, South of the Canadian River, in Texas" from the name of the district, changes "Ground Water" to "Groundwater" in the name of the district, and expressly grants the district the authority to regulate any underground water resources inside its boundaries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1A, Chapter 19, Acts of the 55th Legislature, Regular Session, 1957 (Article 8280-191, V.T.C.S.), to delete "Number Three, South of the Canadian River, in Texas" from the name of the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 19, Acts of the 55th Legislature, Regular Session, 1957 (Article 8280-191, V.T.C.S.), by adding Section 1C, as follows: Sec. 1C. Authorizes the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District, notwithstanding other provisions of this Act, to regulate any underground water resources inside the boundaries of the district, including any aquifer, perched water formation, or alluvium deposit, in the manner provided by law. SECTION 3.Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.