SRC-PNG S.B. 1300 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1300
By: Brown
Natural Resources
3/29/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

A number of older residential subdivisions in Harris County were developed
with lots insufficient in size to accommodate individual water and
wastewater disposal facilities.  These subdivisions are mostly in areas
where septic systems are not feasible and a public sewer is unavailable.
Households within these subdivisions are currently discharging their
untreated sewage into roadside ditches or culverts, causing a public health
hazard to the community.  This bill would allow a county with a population
of 2.8 million or more to permit the use of land aerobic, on-site sewage
facilities for certain residential structures with properly treated
discharge into state ditches. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1300 allows a county with a population of 2.8 million or
more to permit the use of land aerobic, on-site sewage facilities for
certain residential structures with discharge into state ditches. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) in SECTION 1 (Section 26.050(a), Water Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 26B, Water Code, by adding Section 26.050, as
follows: 

Sec.  26.050.  ON-SITE SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEM.  Requires the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), by rule to authorize the issuance
of a permit by a county for the discharge of treated sewage into or
adjacent to water in this state by an on-site sewage disposal system, to
the extent not in conflict with federal law, if certain conditions exist.
Defines "on-site sewage disposal system." 

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