AN ACT
1-1 relating to requiring the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
1-2 Commission to develop a water supply model for the Rio Grande.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 16.012, Water Code, is amended by adding
1-5 a new Subsection (h) and redesignating existing Subsections (h),
1-6 (i), and (j) as Subsections (i), (j), and (k) to read as follows:
1-7 (h) Not later than December 31, 2003, the commission shall
1-8 obtain or develop an updated water supply model for the Rio Grande.
1-9 Recognizing that the Rio Grande is an international river touching
1-10 on three states of the United States and five states of the United
1-11 Mexican States and draining an area larger than the State of Texas,
1-12 the model shall encompass to the extent practicable the significant
1-13 water demands within the watershed of the river as well as the
1-14 unique geology and hydrology of the region. The commission may
1-15 collect data from all jurisdictions that allocate the waters of the
1-16 river, including jurisdictions outside this state.
1-17 (i) Within 90 days of completing a water availability model
1-18 for a river basin, the commission shall provide to all holders of
1-19 existing permits, certified filings, and certificates of
1-20 adjudication in that river basin the projected amount of water that
1-21 would be available: during a drought of record; when flows are at
1-22 75 percent of normal; and when flows are at 50 percent of normal.
1-23 (j) [(i)] Within 90 days of completing a water availability
1-24 model for a river basin, the commission shall provide to each
2-1 regional water planning group created under Section 16.053 of this
2-2 code in that river basin the projected amount of water that would
2-3 be available if cancellation procedures were instigated under the
2-4 provisions of Subchapter E, Chapter 11, of this code.
2-5 (k) [(j)] Within 90 days of completing a water availability
2-6 model for a river basin, the commission, in coordination with the
2-7 Parks and Wildlife Department, shall determine the potential impact
2-8 of reusing municipal and industrial effluent on existing water
2-9 rights, instream uses, and freshwater inflows to bays and
2-10 estuaries. Within 30 days of making this determination, the
2-11 commission shall provide the projections to the board and each
2-12 regional water planning group created under Section 16.053 of this
2-13 code in that river basin.
2-14 SECTION 2. The implementation of Subsection (h), Section
2-15 16.012, Water Code, as added by this Act, is contingent on the
2-16 appropriation by the 77th Legislature of funds for the purpose of
2-17 that subsection.
2-18 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
2-19 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-20 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-21 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-22 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-23 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-24 passage, and it is so enacted.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 76 passed the Senate on
April 7, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 25, 1999, by the
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 76 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 22, 1999, by the following vote: Yeas 143,
Nays 1, two present not voting.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
_______________________________
Date
_______________________________
Governor