By Luna                                               H.B. No. 3044
         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 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 made fresh by
1-21     desalination for municipal or industrial purposes.
1-22           SECTION 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 15, Water Code, is amended
1-23     by adding Section 15.117 to read as follows:
 2-1           Sec. 15.117.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DESALINATION PROJECTS.
 2-2     The board may provide funding for desalination projects on the same
 2-3     participation basis as other water projects.
 2-4           SECTION 3.  The General Land Office, in conjunction with the
 2-5     Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, shall conduct studies of the
 2-6     most feasible, economical, and environmentally sound ways to
 2-7     dispose of brine produced from desalination of water for municipal
 2-8     purposes.
 2-9           SECTION 4.  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.