HBA-LJP C.S.H.B. 2847 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 2847
By: Averitt
Natural Resources
4/3/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the Brazos River Authority (authority) develops and
manages the surface water of the Brazos River.  The long term water supply
of the authority is under contract and the authority may need an additional
water supply besides the surface water.  Also, groundwater is often
interconnected with surface water and can have a significant impact on the
quality and quantity of the surface water.  C.S.H.B. 2847 provides for the
authority's development and management of groundwater in the Brazos River
Basin for use of its customers. 

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. 2847 amends law to provide that the Brazos River Authority
(authority) has the authority to discover, develop, produce and use
groundwater in the Brazos River Basin for the use of its customers. The
bill also provides that the Brazos River Conservation and Reclamation
District has the powers of control and employment of the groundwater and
unappropriated flow waters of the district in the prescribed manner for the
greatest practicable measure of the conservation and beneficial utilization
of groundwater. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2847 modifies the original to provide that the Brazos River
Authority has authority over the Brazos River Basin for use of its
customers, rather than the Brazos River Authority has authority over the
Brazos River Basin and environs.  The substitute includes the power and
control of unappropriated flow waters in the authority of the Brazos River
Conservation and Reclamation District.