By Brown                                               S.B. No. 658
         76R5063 SMJ-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the dates by which regional and state water plans must
 1-3     be adopted.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 11.134(c), Water Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           (c)  Beginning January 5, 2002 [September 1, 2001], the
 1-8     commission may not issue a water right for municipal purposes in a
 1-9     region that does not have an approved regional water plan in
1-10     accordance with Section 16.053(i) [of this code] unless the
1-11     commission determines that conditions warrant waiver of this
1-12     requirement.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 16.051(a), Water Code, is amended to read
1-14     as follows:
1-15           (a)  No later than January 5, 2002 [September 1, 2001], and
1-16     every five years thereafter, the board shall adopt a comprehensive
1-17     state water plan that incorporates the regional water plans
1-18     approved under Section 16.053 [of this code].  The state water plan
1-19     shall provide for the orderly development, management, and
1-20     conservation of water resources and preparation for and response to
1-21     drought conditions, in order that sufficient water will be
1-22     available at a reasonable cost to ensure public health, safety, and
1-23     welfare; further economic development; and protect the agricultural
1-24     and natural resources of the entire state.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  Sections 16.053(i) and (j), Water Code, are
 2-2     amended to read as follows:
 2-3           (i)  The regional water planning groups shall submit their
 2-4     adopted regional water plans to the board by January 5, 2001
 2-5     [September 1, 2000], for approval and inclusion in the state water
 2-6     plan.  In conjunction with the submission of regional water plans,
 2-7     each planning group should make legislative recommendations, if
 2-8     any, to facilitate more voluntary water transfers in the region.
 2-9     Subsequent regional water plans shall be submitted at least every
2-10     five years thereafter.  Public participation for revised regional
2-11     plans shall follow the procedures under Subsection (h) [of this
2-12     section].
2-13           (j)  The board may provide financial assistance to political
2-14     subdivisions under Subchapters E and F of this chapter, [and]
2-15     Subchapters C, D, E, F, and J, Chapter 15, and Subchapters D, I, K,
2-16     and L, Chapter 17, [of this code] for water supply projects only
2-17     if:
2-18                 (1)  the board determines that the needs to be
2-19     addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is
2-20     consistent with the state water plan; and
2-21                 (2)  beginning January 5, 2002 [September 1, 2001], the
2-22     board:
2-23                       (A)  has approved a regional water plan as
2-24     provided by Subsection (i) [of this section], and any required
2-25     updates of the plan, for the region of the state that includes the
2-26     area benefiting from the proposed project; and
2-27                       (B)  determines that the needs to be addressed by
 3-1     the project will be addressed in a manner that is consistent with
 3-2     that regional water plan.
 3-3           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 3-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 3-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 3-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 3-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 3-8     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 3-9     passage, and it is so enacted.