SRC-MWN H.B. 1504 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1504
By: Walker (Bivins)
Natural Resources
4/27/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires groundwater conservation districts that have authority
over water well permits to promptly consider and pass on each application
received. H.B. 1504 grants districts  greater options over approving or
denying applications. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the district in SECTION 1
(Section 36.114, Water Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 36.114, Water Code, to require the district to
promptly consider and act, rather than pass, on each administratively
complete application for a permit. Authorizes an applicant if, within 30,
rather than 20, days after the date the administratively complete
application is submitted, an application has not been acted, rather than
passed, on or set for a hearing on a specific date, to petition the
district court of the county where the land is located for a writ of
mandamus to compel the district to act on the application or set a date for
a hearing on the application. Authorizes the district by rule to set a time
when an application will expire if the information requested in the
application is not provided to the district. Provides that an
administratively complete application requires information set forth in
accordance with Sections 36.113 and 36.1131. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.