By Burnam                                             H.B. No. 2372
         77R5923 JAT-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the role of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
 1-3     Commission in economic development of the state.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 361.0231(a), Health and Safety Code, is
 1-6     amended to read as follows:
 1-7           (a)  To protect the public health and environment[, encourage
 1-8     economic development,] and assure the continuation of the federal
 1-9     funding for abandoned facility response actions, it is the state
1-10     public policy that adequate capacity should exist for the proper
1-11     management of industrial and hazardous waste generated in this
1-12     state.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Section 5.012, Water Code, is amended to read as
1-14     follows:
1-15           Sec. 5.012.  DECLARATION OF POLICY.  The commission is the
1-16     agency of the state given primary responsibility for implementing
1-17     the constitution and laws of this state relating to the
1-18     conservation of natural resources and the protection of the
1-19     environment.  The commission is not responsible for fostering or
1-20     encouraging economic development.
1-21           SECTION 3.  Section 26.003, Water Code, is amended to read as
1-22     follows:
1-23           Sec. 26.003.  POLICY OF THIS SUBCHAPTER.  It is the policy of
1-24     this state and the purpose of this subchapter to maintain the
 2-1     quality of water in the state consistent with the public health and
 2-2     enjoyment, the propagation and protection of terrestrial and
 2-3     aquatic life, and the operation of existing industries[, and the
 2-4     economic development of the state]; to encourage and promote the
 2-5     development and use of regional and areawide waste collection,
 2-6     treatment, and disposal systems to serve the waste disposal needs
 2-7     of the citizens of the state; and to require the use of all
 2-8     reasonable methods to implement this policy.
 2-9           SECTION 4.  Section 27.003, Water Code, is amended to read as
2-10     follows:
2-11           Sec. 27.003.  POLICY AND PURPOSE.  It is the policy of this
2-12     state and the purpose of this chapter to maintain the quality of
2-13     fresh water in the state to the extent consistent with the public
2-14     health and welfare and[,] the operation of existing industries,
2-15     [and the economic development of the state,] to prevent underground
2-16     injection that may pollute fresh water, and to require the use of
2-17     all reasonable methods to implement this policy.
2-18           SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-19     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-20     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-21     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-22     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.