By: Brown S.B. No. 1300 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the permitting of discharges from certain sewage 1-2 treatment and disposal systems in certain counties. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 26, Water Code, is amended 1-5 by adding Section 26.0405 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 26.0405. GENERAL PERMITS FOR CERTAIN SEWAGE TREATMENT 1-7 AND DISPOSAL SYSTEMS. (a) To the extent not in conflict with 1-8 state water quality standards or federal law, the commission shall 1-9 issue one or more general permits for the discharge of treated 1-10 sewage into or adjacent to water in this state by a sewage 1-11 treatment and disposal system if the system: 1-12 (1) produces not more than 5,000 gallons of waste each 1-13 day; 1-14 (2) is in a county with a population of 2.8 million 1-15 or more that is an authorized agent under Chapter 366, Health and 1-16 Safety Code, and that has: 1-17 (A) adopted a resolution under Section 7.352 1-18 that authorizes the county to exercise enforcement power under 1-19 Subchapter H, Chapter 7; and 1-20 (B) entered into an agreement with the 1-21 commission to inspect, investigate, and otherwise monitor 1-22 compliance with the permit; 1-23 (3) provides sewage treatment and disposal for a 1-24 single-family residence for which the commission determines a 2-1 connection to an existing or proposed area-wide or regional waste 2-2 collection, treatment, and disposal system is not feasible; and 2-3 (4) is on a property that: 2-4 (A) was subdivided and developed before January 2-5 1, 1979; and 2-6 (B) is of insufficient size to accommodate 2-7 on-site disposal of all wastewater in compliance with Chapter 366, 2-8 Health and Safety Code. 2-9 (b) A person who discharges under a permit issued under this 2-10 section is not required to hold a certificate of competency issued 2-11 under Section 26.0301. 2-12 (c) For a permit issued under this section, the commission 2-13 shall for each system: 2-14 (1) specify the design, operation, and maintenance 2-15 requirements; and 2-16 (2) establish the primary and secondary treatment 2-17 requirements. 2-18 (d) A system for which a permit is issued under this section 2-19 is subject to design criteria established under Chapter 366, Health 2-20 and Safety Code, and is not subject to design criteria established 2-21 under Section 26.034. 2-22 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-1 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-2 passage, and it is so enacted.