1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the well permitting process of groundwater conservation
 1-3     districts.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 36.114, Water Code, is amended to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           Sec. 36.114.  PERMIT; APPLICATION AND HEARING. The district
 1-8     shall promptly consider and act [pass] on each administratively
 1-9     complete application for a permit.  If, within 30 [20] days after
1-10     the date the administratively complete application [it] is
1-11     submitted, an application has not been acted [passed] on or set for
1-12     a hearing on a specific date, the applicant may petition the
1-13     district court of the county where the land is located for a writ
1-14     of mandamus to compel the district to act on the application or set
1-15     a date for a hearing on the application.  A hearing shall be held
1-16     within 35 days after the setting of the date and the district shall
1-17     act on the application within 35 days after the date of the
1-18     hearing.  The district may by rule set a time when an application
1-19     will expire if the information requested in the application is not
1-20     provided to the district.  An administratively complete application
1-21     requires information set forth in accordance with Sections 36.113
1-22     and 36.1131.
1-23           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-24     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-1     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-2     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-3     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1504 was passed by the House on March
         29, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 1504 was passed by the Senate on May
         10, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor