By Maxey                                               H.B. No. 553
         76R63 JJT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the qualifications of a commissioner of the Texas
 1-3     Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 5.052(a), Water Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The commission is composed of three members who are
 1-8     appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate
 1-9     to represent the general public.  At least one member must be a
1-10     person who, by the person's actions before the appointment, has
1-11     demonstrated an ongoing commitment to environmental conservation or
1-12     environmental protection.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 5.052(a), Water Code, as amended by this
1-14     Act, applies only to appointments made under that section on or
1-15     after the effective date of this Act and does not affect the
1-16     qualifications or term of office of a member of the Texas Natural
1-17     Resource Conservation Commission appointed before the effective
1-18     date.
1-19           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-20     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-21     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-22     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-23     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-24     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-1     passage, and it is so enacted.