SRC-PNG S.B. 658 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 658 76R5063 SMJ-DBy: Brown Natural Resources 3/1/1999 As Filed 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 proposed, 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.