HBA-BSM H.B. 1504 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1504 By: Walker Natural Resources 2/25/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires districts that have authority over water well permits to promptly consider and pass on each application received. By changing the requirement to act instead of pass, the bill authorizes districts to have greater options over approving or denying applications received. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 1504 amends the Water Code to require a district that has the authority to regulate water wells to promptly consider and act on each application for a permit. The bill authorizes an applicant to petition the district court of the county where the land is located, after 20 days from the date of the application, if an application has not been acted upon or set for a hearing on a specific date. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.