By:  Shapleigh                                        S.B. No. 1562
         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 authority of regional water planning groups.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 16.053, Water Code, is amended by adding
 1-5     Subsections (p) through (r) to read as follows:
 1-6           (p)  In addition to the financial assistance provided under
 1-7     Subsection (g), a regional water planning group that substantially
 1-8     comprises rural areas may apply for a loan or grant of money from
 1-9     the board to purchase equipment necessary for developing the
1-10     group's plan, including funding for test wells and observation
1-11     wells, monitoring equipment, groundwater modeling, and data
1-12     collection for aquifers in the region.  The board shall determine
1-13     the terms and conditions governing any loan or grant of money made
1-14     under this subsection and shall determine whether to approve an
1-15     application for a loan or grant of money.  The legislature may
1-16     appropriate money for financial assistance authorized by this
1-17     subsection.
1-18           (q)  A regional water planning group whose adopted regional
1-19     water plan has been approved by the board may apply to have its
1-20     plan revised whenever the planning group considers the revision to
1-21     be necessary.  The board shall determine whether to approve the
1-22     revision in accordance with Subsections (e) and (f).  At least 30
1-23     days before applying for a proposed revision under this subsection,
 2-1     the regional water planning group shall provide public notice as
 2-2     provided by Subsection (h)(8) and shall hold at least one public
 2-3     meeting at some central location within the area to receive comment
 2-4     from the public.
 2-5           (r)  A regional water planning group lying within the
 2-6     Texas-Mexico border region may cooperate in developing its regional
 2-7     water plan with:
 2-8                 (1)  the United Mexican States or any of its political
 2-9     subdivisions that border the state or that share a water resource
2-10     with the state; or
2-11                 (2)  the state of New Mexico or any of its political
2-12     subdivisions that border the Texas-Mexico border region or that
2-13     share a water resource with the region.
2-14           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.