By Walker                                             H.B. No. 3037
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the regulation of spacing and production of wells by
 1-3     groundwater conservation districts.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 36.116, Water Code, is amended to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           In order to minimize as far as practicable the drawdown of
 1-8     the water table or the reduction of artesian pressure, to control
 1-9     subsidence, to prevent interference between wells, to prevent
1-10     degradation of water quality, or to prevent waste, a district may
1-11     by rule:
1-12           (a)  Regulate [provide for] the spacing of water wells [and
1-13     may regulate the production of wells] as follows:
1-14                 (1)  require water wells to be spaced a certain
1-15     distance from property lines or adjoining wells;
1-16                 (2)  require wells with a certain production capacity,
1-17     pump size, or other characteristic related to the construction or
1-18     operation of the well be spaced a certain distance from property
1-19     lines or adjoining wells; or
1-20                 (3)  other spacing requirements adopted by the board.
1-21           (b)  Regulate the production of groundwater by limiting;
1-22                 (1)  total annual production;
1-23                 (2)  amount of water produced based on acreage or tract
 2-1     size;
 2-2                 (3)  amount of water which can be produced from a
 2-3     maximum number of acres assigned by the district to an authorized
 2-4     well site;
 2-5                 (4)  maximum amount of water which can be produced from
 2-6     a number of acres assigned by a district on an acre foot per acre
 2-7     or gallons per minute for an authorized well site; or
 2-8                 (5)  other production limits adopted by the district.
 2-9           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-10     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-11     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-12     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-13     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.