By Luna                                               H.B. No. 3044
         77R12330 E                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the desalination of water.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 11.085(v), Water Code, is amended to read
 1-5     as follows:
 1-6           (v)  The provisions of this section, except Subsection (a),
 1-7     do not apply to:
 1-8                 (1)  a proposed transfer which in combination with any
 1-9     existing transfers totals less than 3,000 acre-feet of water per
1-10     annum from the same permit, certified filing, or certificate of
1-11     adjudication;
1-12                 (2)  a request for an emergency transfer of water;
1-13                 (3)  a proposed transfer from a basin to its adjoining
1-14     coastal basin;  [or]
1-15                 (4)  a proposed transfer from a basin to a county or
1-16     municipality or the municipality's retail service area that is
1-17     partially within the basin for use in that part of the county or
1-18     municipality and the municipality's retail service area not within
1-19     the basin; or
1-20                 (5)  a proposed transfer of water that originated in
1-21     the waters of the bays or arms of the Gulf of Mexico.
1-22           SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 15, Water Code, is amended
1-23     by adding Section 15.117 to read as follows:
1-24           Sec. 15.117.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DESALINATION PROJECTS.
 2-1     The board may provide funding for desalination projects on the same
 2-2     participation basis as other water projects.
 2-3           SECTION 3. The General Land Office, in conjunction with the
 2-4     Parks and Wildlife Department, shall conduct studies of the most
 2-5     feasible, economical, and environmentally sound ways to dispose of
 2-6     brine produced from desalination of water for municipal purposes.
 2-7           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-8     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-9     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-10     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-11     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.