SRC-SEW H.B. 2665 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2665 By: Oliveira (Lucio) Natural Resources 5/11/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The Southmost Regional Water Authority (authority) is investigating the feasibility of producing brackish groundwater from wells and treating the water with a reverse osmosis process to supplement the Cameron County members' municipal water supply. The authority is concerned with protecting its proposed wells which requires the power to regulate well spacing and production. H.B. 2665 grants the authority all of the rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties of a groundwater conservation district, subject to voter approval. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 511, Acts of the 67th Legislature, Regular Session, 1981, by adding Section 18A , as follows: Sec. 18A. Provides that the authority, subject to certain voter approval, has all of the rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties provided by Chapter 36D, Water Code, within the boundaries of the authority and, except as provided by Subsection (b), within certain territory that is not within the authority's boundaries. Provides that the territory within the corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction for subdivision plat approval of any municipality that is not a member of the authority is excluded from territory in which the authority is authorized to exercise its powers under this section unless that territory is within the boundaries of the authority. SECTION 2. (a) Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001. (b) Provides that if the proposition submitted to the voters under Section 18A, Chapter 511, Acts of the 67th Legislature, Regular Session, 1981, as added by this Act, does not receive the approval of the voters as provided by that section before September 1, 2002, Section 18A, as added by this Act, expires on that date.