1-1 By: Brown S.B. No. 658
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed February 23, 1999; February 25, 1999,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
1-4 March 4, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6,
1-5 Nays 0; March 4, 1999, sent to printer.)
1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-7 AN ACT
1-8 relating to the dates by which regional and state water plans must
1-9 be adopted.
1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11 SECTION 1. Subsection (c), Section 11.134, Water Code, is
1-12 amended to read as follows:
1-13 (c) Beginning January 5, 2002 [September 1, 2001], the
1-14 commission may not issue a water right for municipal purposes in a
1-15 region that does not have an approved regional water plan in
1-16 accordance with Section 16.053(i) [of this code] unless the
1-17 commission determines that conditions warrant waiver of this
1-18 requirement.
1-19 SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 16.051, Water Code, is
1-20 amended to read as follows:
1-21 (a) No later than January 5, 2002 [September 1, 2001], and
1-22 every five years thereafter, the board shall adopt a comprehensive
1-23 state water plan that incorporates the regional water plans
1-24 approved under Section 16.053 [of this code]. The state water plan
1-25 shall provide for the orderly development, management, and
1-26 conservation of water resources and preparation for and response to
1-27 drought conditions, in order that sufficient water will be
1-28 available at a reasonable cost to ensure public health, safety, and
1-29 welfare; further economic development; and protect the agricultural
1-30 and natural resources of the entire state.
1-31 SECTION 3. Subsections (i) and (j), Section 16.053, Water
1-32 Code, are amended to read as follows:
1-33 (i) The regional water planning groups shall submit their
1-34 adopted regional water plans to the board by January 5, 2001
1-35 [September 1, 2000], for approval and inclusion in the state water
1-36 plan. In conjunction with the submission of regional water plans,
1-37 each planning group should make legislative recommendations, if
1-38 any, to facilitate more voluntary water transfers in the region.
1-39 Subsequent regional water plans shall be submitted at least every
1-40 five years thereafter. Public participation for revised regional
1-41 plans shall follow the procedures under Subsection (h) [of this
1-42 section].
1-43 (j) The board may provide financial assistance to political
1-44 subdivisions under Subchapters E and F of this chapter, [and]
1-45 Subchapters C, D, E, F, and J, Chapter 15, and Subchapters D, I, K,
1-46 and L, Chapter 17, [of this code] for water supply projects only
1-47 if:
1-48 (1) the board determines that the needs to be
1-49 addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is
1-50 consistent with the state water plan; and
1-51 (2) beginning January 5, 2002 [September 1, 2001], the
1-52 board:
1-53 (A) has approved a regional water plan as
1-54 provided by Subsection (i) [of this section], and any required
1-55 updates of the plan, for the region of the state that includes the
1-56 area benefiting from the proposed project; and
1-57 (B) determines that the needs to be addressed by
1-58 the project will be addressed in a manner that is consistent with
1-59 that regional water plan.
1-60 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
1-61 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-62 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-63 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-64 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-2 passage, and it is so enacted.
2-3 * * * * *