By Turner of Coleman, Hupp, Miller, et al.             H.B. No. 247
         77R2187 QS-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the use of stored water for wildlife management on a
 1-3     person's property.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 11.142(a), Water Code, is amended to read
 1-6     as follows:
 1-7           (a)  Without obtaining a permit, a person may construct on
 1-8     the person's [his own] property a dam or reservoir with normal
 1-9     storage of not more  than 200 acre-feet of water for domestic and
1-10     livestock purposes or for commercial or noncommercial wildlife
1-11     management, including  fishing.
1-12           SECTION 2.  Section 11.143(a), Water Code, is amended to read
1-13     as follows:
1-14           (a)  The owner of a dam or reservoir exempted under Section
1-15     11.142(a) [11.142 of this code] who desires to use water from the
1-16     dam or reservoir for a purpose not described by that subsection
1-17     [purposes other than domestic or livestock use] shall obtain a
1-18     permit to do so.  The owner [He] may obtain a regular permit, a
1-19     seasonal permit, or a permit for a term of years.  The owner [He]
1-20     may elect to obtain the permit by proceeding under this section or
1-21     under the other provisions of this chapter governing issuance of
1-22     permits.
1-23           SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 11.143, Water Code, is
1-24     amended to read as follows:
 2-1           Sec. 11.143.  [DOMESTIC AND LIVESTOCK RESERVOIR] USE OF WATER
 2-2     FROM EXEMPT DAM OR RESERVOIR FOR NONEXEMPT [OTHER] PURPOSES.
 2-3           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-4     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-5     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-6     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-7     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.