SRC-MKV S.B. 1697 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1697
By: Barrientos
Natural Resources
4/10/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

In1999, the legislature granted the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA)
the ability to sell 25,000 acre-feet of water to Williamson County.  As
part of that arrangement, an agricultural water conservation fund to hold
revenues derived from a surcharge associated with the sale of that water
was created.  Currently, an advisory board exists with which the LCRA must
consult before spending money from that fund.  The three members of that
board are from Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado counties, respectively.
Because of any transfer of water from the Colorado River watershed to
another watershed impacts all water users with the LCRA's service area,
S.B. 1697 provides more regional balance to the advisory committee by
including three additional members from Burnet, Llano, and Travis counties. 

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 27, Chapter 7, Acts of the 43rd Legislature, 4th
Called Session, 1934 (Article 8280-107, V.T.C.S.), to add language
requiring the Lower Colorado River Authority to consult with a six-member
advisory committee composed of one member each from Matagorda, Wharton, and
Colorado counties, as appointed by the county judges of those counties, to
represent agricultural irrigation interests, and one member each from
Burnet, Llano, and Travis counties, as appointed by the county judges of
those counties, to represent the interests of the Highland Lakes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.