SRC-MKV H.B. 2847 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterH.B. 2847
By: Averitt (Sibley)
Natural Resources
5/10/2001
Committee Report (Amended)


DIGEST 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. H.B. 2847 provides for the
authority's development and management of groundwater in the Brazos River
Basin for the use of its customers.  

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 Sections 2, 3, and 4, Chapter 13, Special Laws, Acts of
the 41st Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929, as follows: 

Sec. 2.  Adds language to require the Brazos River Authority to have and be
recognized to exercise such authority to discover, develop, and produce
groundwater in the Brazos River Basin for the use of its customers. 

Sec. 3.  Adds language to require the Brazos River Authority to have and be
recognized to exercise the powers of control and employment of groundwater
of the district.   

(j)  Adds language to add to the list of purposes for such authority to
include developing and making groundwater available for use for domestic,
municipal, irrigation, commercial and industrial purposes. 

(m)  Provides that nothing in this chapter shall confer to the Brazos River
Authority any power under Chapter 36, Water Code, to regulate the
groundwater of other land owners. 

 Sec. 4.  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 5-b, Chapter 368, Acts of the 44th Legislature,
1st Called Session, 1935, to add language to specify the use of waters as
the use of waters of the State of Texas. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Sections 6 and 12, Chapter 13, Special Laws, Acts of the
41st Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929, as follows: 

Sec. 6.  Changes references from "President" and "Vice-President" to
"Chairman" and "ViceChairman." 

  Sec. 12.  Makes a conforming change.

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. Amends Section 3, Chapter 13, Acts of the 41st Legislature, 2nd
Called Session, 1929, by adding Subsection (m).