SRC-MKV S.B. 1562 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1562
By: Shapleigh
Natural Resources
3/21/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

As proposed, S.B. 1562 allows a regional water planning group in a rural
area to apply for a loan or grant for money to purchase equipment needed to
complete the group's plan.  The bill allows a regional water planning group
to amend the water plan submitted to the Texas Water Development Board
provided the region provides public notice before making any changes to the
plan.  Lastly, the bill allows border regions to work with Mexico and New
Mexico in preparing the region's water plan since some border regions share
water reservoirs with other states or countries and their needs must be
included in 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 16.053, Water Code, by adding Subsections (p)
through (r), as follows: 

(p) Authorizes a regional water planning group (group) that substantially
comprises rural areas, in addition to the financial assistance provided
under Subsection (g), to apply for a loan or grant of money from the Texas
Water Development Board (board) to purchase equipment necessary for
developing the group's plan, including funding for test wells and
observation wells, monitoring equipment, groundwater modeling, and data
collection for aquifers in the region. Requires the board to determine the
terms and conditions governing any loan or grant of money made under this
subsection and to determine whether to approve an application for a loan or
grant of money.  Authorizes the legislature to appropriate money for
financial assistance authorized by this subsection. 

(q) Authorizes a group whose adopted regional water plan has been approved
by the board to apply to have its plan revised whenever the group considers
the revision to be necessary. Requires the board to determine whether to
approve the revision in accordance with Subsections (e) and (f).  Requires
the group, at least 30 days before applying for a proposed revision under
this subsection, to provide public notice as provided by Subsection (h)(8)
and to hold at least one public meeting at some central location within the
area to receive comment from the public. 

(r) Authorizes a group lying within the Texas-Mexico border region to
cooperate in developing its regional water plan with the United Mexican
States or any of its political subdivisions that border the state or that
share a water resource with the state, or the state of New Mexico or any of
its political subdivisions that border the Texas-Mexico border region or
that share a water resource with the region. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.