HBA-SEP C.S.H.B. 2665 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2665 By: Oliveira Natural Resources 3/26/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND 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. C.S.H.B. 2665 grants the authority all of the rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties of a groundwater conservation district. 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 C.S.H.B. 2665 amends law to grant, within certain boundaries, the Southmost Regional Water Authority (authority) all of the rights, powers, privileges, authority, functions, and duties of a groundwater conservation district, subject to voter approval at a confirmation election. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 2665 differs from the original by subjecting the Southernmost Regional Water Authority to a confirmation election. The substitute adds the condition that if the proposition submitted to the voters does not receive the approval of the voters before September 1, 2002, this Act expires on that date.