By Bailey                                             H.B. No. 2887
         76R8129 PAM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to prohibiting construction or improvement on property
 1-3     near certain water sources in certain counties.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 341, Health and Safety
 1-6     Code, is amended by adding Section 341.0371 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 341.0371.  PROTECTION OF CERTAIN WATER SOURCES IN
 1-8     CERTAIN COUNTIES.  (a)  In this section, "water well" has the
 1-9     meaning assigned by Section 32.001, Water Code.
1-10           (b)  This section applies only to the unincorporated area of
1-11     a county that has a population of 2.8 million or more.
1-12           (c)  A person may not engage in the construction or
1-13     improvement of any property located within 500 feet of a septic
1-14     tank or water well.
1-15           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act does not apply
1-16     to the construction or improvement of property that began before
1-17     the effective date of this Act.
1-18           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.