SRC-PNG C.S.S.B. 1300 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1300 76R10978 MXM-FBy: Brown Natural Resources 4/8/1999 Committee Report (Substituted) 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 certain sewage treatment and disposal systems. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1300 allows a county with a population of 2.8 million or more to permit the use of certain sewage treatment and disposal systems. 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 Chapter 26B, Water Code, by adding Section 26.0405, as follows: Sec. 26.0405. GENERAL PERMITS FOR CERTAIN SEWAGE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to issue one or more general permits for the discharge of treated sewage into or adjacent to water in this state by certain sewage treatment and disposal systems, to the extent not in conflict with state water quality standards or federal law. Provides that a person who discharges under a permit issued under this section is not required to hold a certificate of competency issued under Section 26.0301. Requires TNRCC to specify the design, operation, and maintenance requirements and establish the primary and secondary treatment requirements for each system, for a permit issued under this section. Provides that a system for which a permit is issued under this section is subject to design criteria established under Chapter 366, Health and Safety Code, and is not subject to design criteria established under Section 26.034. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Relating clause. Amends the relating clause to state that the bill relates to the permitting of discharges from certain sewage treatment and disposal systems in certain counties, rather than permitting discharges from on-site sewage disposal systems. SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 26B, Water Code, by adding Section 26.0405 concerning general permits for certain sewage treatment and disposal systems. Deletes proposed SECTION 1.