SRC-MKV H.B. 3355 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3355
77R10713 JAT-FBy: McReynolds (Staples)
Natural Resources
5/1/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Many agricultural producers currently operate with a water quality
management plan (plan) created by the State Soil and Water Conservation
Board (board) to assist in protecting and preserving water supplies. Under
current law, a person without a plan who intends to bury agricultural waste
must follow the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC)
guidelines for burial, including notifying TNRCC before each burial and
deed recordation of property for each burial. H.B. 3355 authorizes the
State Soil and Water Conservation Board to develop and certify a water
quality management plan at the request of a landowner and sets forth
provisions regarding the contents of the plan.  

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 Section 201.026, Agriculture Code, by adding Subsections
(e), (f), and (g), as follows: 

(e) Authorizes the State Soil and Water Conservation Board, at the request
of the landowner, to develop and certify a water quality management plan
for any agricultural or silvicultural land in the state. 

(f) Requires a water quality management plan developed under this section
that covers land on which animal carcasses will be buried to meet certain
requirements. 

(g) Prohibits the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
(commission) from requiring a landowner who requests and complies with a
water quality management plan under Subsection (f) to record the burial of
animal carcasses in the county deed records. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.