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.