SRC-ARR S.B. 991 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 991
76R8790 MI-FBy: Lucio
Natural Resources
3/22/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the available water supplies in the Rio Grande Valley are
dwindling due to growing municipal and economic needs. S.B. 991 would allow
the use of state or federal funds to provide grants or loans through the
Texas Water Development Board for water conservation projects to irrigation
districts.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 991 regulates the operations of the Texas Water Bank. 

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 15.703(a), Water Code, to authorize the Texas
Water Development Board (board) to take all actions necessary to operate
the water bank and to facilitate the transfer of water rights from the
water bank for future beneficial use, including but not limited to
purchasing, holding, and transferring rather than selling, water or water
rights in its own name and entering into contracts with persons to pay for
feasibility studies of the preparation of plans and specifications relating
to water conservation efforts or to estimate the amount of water that would
be saved through conservation efforts. Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 15.705, Water Code, as follows:

Sec. 15.705. FEES. Authorizes the board to charge a transaction fee per
transfer not to exceed one percent, rather than $500, of the value of the
water or water right received into or transferred from the water bank to
cover expenses of the board in operating the water bank. Requires the board
to place fees in the water bank account of the water assistance fund where
they are to be separately accounted  for and used, with interest, only for
the administration and operation of the water bank by the board. Deletes
text regarding exempt political subdivisions. 

SECTION 3. Amends Section 15.707(a), Water Code, to provide that the water
account is created as a special account in the water assistance fund and is
composed of money received from the transfer of water or water rights held
in the board's name in the bank. Makes conforming changes. 

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