HBA-BSM H.B. 2947 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2947
By: Davis, John
Natural Resources
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a city must post notice of intent to obtain a water discharge
permit in the newspaper with the largest circulation in the county.  This
means that cities in counties such as Harris and Dallas must pay to
advertise in major national newspapers when only a small area of that
paper's circulation is affected. This can result in very high advertising
costs for a city.  House Bill 2947 modifies law to allow a municipality
applying for a water discharge permit to print notice in the newspaper of
general circulation in the municipality in which the facility is to be
located. 

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

House Bill 2947 amends the Water Code to require an applicant to publish
notice of intent to obtain a water discharge permit at least once in a
newspaper of general circulation in the municipality if the facility to
which the application relates is located or proposed to be located in a
municipality. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.