SRC-PNG S.B. 658 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 658
By: Brown
Natural Resources
6/18/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law, the state's regional water planning groups have
until September 1, 2000 to submit regional water plans, which will be
approved by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) and integrated to form
the next state water plan by September 1, 2001.  Some regional water
planning group members have expressed concern that additional time is
needed to produce the regional water plans.  This bill extends the
September 1, 2000 deadline for submittal of regional water plans to the
TWDB to January 5, 2001, and extends the September 1, 2001 deadline for
adoption of the next state water plan to January 5, 2002. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 658 changes the dates by which regional and state water
plans must be adopted. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.134(c), Water Code, to prohibit the Texas
Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) from issuing a water right
for municipal purposes in a region without an approved regional water plan
in accordance with Section 16.053(i) unless TNRCC determines that
conditions warrant waiver of this requirement, beginning January 5, 2002,
rather than September 1, 2001. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 16.051(a), Water Code, to require the Texas
Water Development Board (board) to adopt a comprehensive state water plan
that incorporates the regional water plans approved under Section 16.053 no
later than January 5, 2002, rather than September 1, 2001. 

SECTION 3. Amends Sections 16.053(i) and (j), Water Code, as follows:

(i) Requires the regional water planning groups to submit their adopted
regional water plans to the board by January 5, 2001, rather than September
1, 2000, for approval and inclusion in the state water plan.  Makes a
nonsubstantive change. 

(j) Authorizes the board to provide financial assistance to certain
political subdivisions for water supply projects only if certain conditions
are met, including if the board has approved a regional water plan as
provided by Subsection (i), and any required updates of the plan, for the
region of the state that includes the area benefiting from the proposed
project; and determines that the needs to be addressed by the project will
be addressed in a manner consistent with that regional water plan, by
January 5, 2002, rather than September 1, 2001. Makes conforming and
nonsubstantive changes. 

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