SRC-PNG S.B. 1178 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1178
76R4764 WP-FBy: Ogden
Natural Resources
3/29/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the Lower Colorado River Authority has the authority to provide
water services in Williamson County.  This bill would allow the Brazos
River Authority to enter into an interbasin transfer agreement with the
Lower Colorado River Authority, and revenues generated from that agreement
would be used to finance groundwater development in the downstream
irrigationdependent counties. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1178 allows the Brazos River Authority to enter into an
interbasin transfer agreement with the Lower Colorado River Authority, and
would provide that revenues generated from that agreement would be used to
finance groundwater development in the downstream irrigation-dependent
counties. 

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 Article 8280-107, V.T.C.S., to authorize a district to
transfer surface water from the district to a place in Williamson County
that is outside the watershed of the Colorado River only if the transfer is
made to a municipality that was a district water customer on May 20, 1997,
rather than the effective date of this section, and located in the
watersheds of both the Colorado and the Brazos Rivers, or a person or
entity that pays for the surface water in an amount sufficient to pay both
the districts' cost of service and an additional charge to mitigate any
adverse effects of the transfer of surface water to Williamson County from
the Colorado River watershed, as determined by the district's board of
directors.  Requires the district to determine the amount of the additional
charge under Subsection (a)(3)(b) of this section.  Authorizes the district
to use money from the additional charge only for the development of water
resources or other water use strategies to replace or offset the amount of
surface water transferred to Williamson County.  Provides that the board of
director's determination of the additional charge is not subject to review
or modification by any regulatory agency or authority.  Authorizes water
resources developed or conserved through the additional charge to be
acquired from any source, in or outside the boundaries of the district, and
used to benefit the water service area of the district described in
Sections 2(a) and 26 of this Act. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
Effective date: upon passage.