H.B. 487 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 487
By: Puente
Natural Resources
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

With few exceptions, irrigation systems are installed without any local
permitting or inspection requirements, leaving consumers unprotected from
systems that are poorly designed or that use excessive amounts of water.  

H.B. 487 would require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
(TCEQ) to adopt standards requiring newly installed or modified irrigation
systems to have a rain shut-off device.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

H.B. 487 requires the TCEQ to adopt standards requiring newly installed or
modified irrigation systems to have a rain shut-off device that overrides
the irrigation cycle of the system when a specified amount of rainfall has
occurred.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003