RBT S.B. 658 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 658
By: Brown
Natural Resources
4/16/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The deadline for Regional Water Planning Groups to provide adopted plans to
the Texas Water Development Board (board), as set by Senate Bill 1, 75th
Legislative Session, is September 1, 2000, and the board's deadline for
incorporating them into the State Water Plan is September 1, 2001. There
has been a three-month delay in the board's commitment of grant funds for
the planning effort due to a rule change prompted by difficulties in
funding.  S.B. 658 provides the regional water planning groups with an
additional four months to submit adopted regional water plans to the board.

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 11.134(c), Water Code, to prohibit the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) from issuing a water
right for municipal purposes in a region that does not have an approved
regional water plan beginning January 5, 2002, rather than September 1,
2001.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 16.051(a), Water Code, to require the Texas
Water Development Board (board) to adopt a comprehensive state water plan
no later than January 5, 2002, rather than September 1, 2001. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 16.053(i) and (j), Water Code, to require the
regional water planning groups to submit their adopted regional water plans
to the board by January 5, 2001, rather than September 1, 2000.  Makes
conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.