By McClendon                                           H.B. No. 332
         77R1206 MI-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to emergency complaints to and response by the Texas
 1-3     Natural Resource Conservation Commission.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 5, Water Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding Section 5.127 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 5.127.  EMERGENCY COMPLAINTS TO AND RESPONSE BY
 1-8     COMMISSION. (a)  The commission shall provide a telephone line that
 1-9     is available to the public 24 hours a day and seven days a week for
1-10     emergency complaints relating to an entity regulated by or a matter
1-11     under the jurisdiction of the commission.
1-12           (b)  The commission by rule shall establish procedures for
1-13     immediate commission action in response to a complaint made outside
1-14     regular business hours regarding an emergency that presents a
1-15     threat to the environment or to the public health and safety.
1-16           SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after September 1, 2001,
1-17     the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall implement
1-18     the requirements of Section 5.127, Water Code, as added by this
1-19     Act.
1-20           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.