By:  Brown                                             S.B. No. 687
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to criminal penalties for the intentional or knowing
 1-3     discharge of waste or pollutants.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 7.145, Water Code, is amended to read as
 1-6     follows:
 1-7           Sec. 7.145.  INTENTIONAL OR KNOWING UNAUTHORIZED DISCHARGE.
 1-8     (a)  A person commits an offense if the person, acting
 1-9     intentionally or knowingly with respect to the person's conduct,
1-10     discharges or allows the discharge of a waste or pollutant:
1-11                 (1)  into or adjacent to water in the state that causes
1-12     or threatens to cause water pollution unless the waste or pollutant
1-13     is discharged in strict compliance with all required permits or
1-14     with an order issued or a rule adopted by the appropriate
1-15     regulatory agency; or
1-16                 (2)  from a point source in violation of Chapter 26 or
1-17     of a rule, permit, or order of the appropriate regulatory agency.
1-18           (b)  An offense under this section is punishable for an
1-19     individual under Section 7.187(1)(C) or Section 7.187(2)(F)
1-20     [7.187(2)(D)] or both.
1-21           SECTION 2.  Section 7.146, Water Code, is repealed.
1-22           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-23     a vote of two-thirds of the members elected to each house, as
1-24     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-25     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-1     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.