76R12054 BDH-F                           
         By Turner of Coleman                                  H.B. No. 3349
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3349:
         By Jones of Brazos                                C.S.H.B. No. 3349
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the brush control program administered by the State
 1-3     Soil and Water Conservation Board.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 203, Agriculture Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 203.0515 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 203.0515.  USE OF WATERSHED STUDIES.  In administering
 1-8     this chapter, the board shall consider the findings and
 1-9     recommendations of available watershed studies.
1-10           SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 203, Agriculture Code, is
1-11     amended by adding Sections 203.0555 and 203.057 to read as follows:
1-12           Sec. 203.0555.  CRITERIA FOR PROJECTS.  The board, in
1-13     consultation with any appropriate state agency, shall:
1-14                 (1)  develop criteria for evaluating brush control
1-15     projects under this chapter, including consideration of water flow
1-16     into aquifer supplies, the rehabilitation of grasslands to support
1-17     livestock and native species, and consideration of any other
1-18     concerns of landowners participating in a project;
1-19                 (2)  provide guidance to each person participating in
1-20     the cost-sharing program under Subchapter E regarding the person's
1-21     rights and responsibilities concerning the use of water conserved
1-22     or otherwise affected by projects under this chapter, including
1-23     water storage and pumping limitations; and
1-24                 (3)  develop and collect data on each brush control
 2-1     project for use in administering this chapter.
 2-2           Sec. 203.057.  FEDERAL FUNDS.  The board shall take any
 2-3     action necessary to obtain for the brush control program under this
 2-4     chapter any available funds from federal assistance programs,
 2-5     including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, as long as
 2-6     acceptance of the federal funds does not include conditions that
 2-7     adversely affect the brush control program.
 2-8           SECTION 3.  Subchapter E, Chapter 497, Government Code, is
 2-9     amended by adding Section 497.0925 to read as follows:
2-10           Sec. 497.0925.  BRUSH CONTROL.  The department and the State
2-11     Soil and Water Conservation Board may enter into and perform an
2-12     agreement or contract for the use of inmate labor for a brush
2-13     control project under Chapter 203, Agriculture Code.
2-14           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-15           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-16     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-17     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-18     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-19     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.