SRC-VRA H.B. 1203 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterH.B. 1203 78R9581 QS-DBy: Cook, Robby (Duncan) Natural Resources 5/12/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Current law requires a ground water conservation district (district) to use the groundwater availability modeling information provided or approved by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). H.B. 1203 requires the executive administrator of TWDB to notify the district if sitespecific information is unreliable. This bill also authorizes a district to amend a management plan after considering comments received by the executive administrator. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 36.1071, Water Code, by amending Subsection (h) and adding Subsection (i), as follows: (h) Deletes existing text related to site-specific information about an aquifer that is acceptable to the executive administrator, of the Texas Water Development Board (executive administrator). (i) Requires the district, if the district anticipates using site-specific information, not later than the 60th day before the date of the public hearing at which adoption of the management plan is first considered, to submit the site-specific information to the executive administrator for review and comment. Requires the executive administrator to provide comments to the district in a timely manner so that the comments are available for consideration at the public hearing. Requires the district to consider the comments received from the executive administrator and authorizes the district to revise the management plan accordingly before it is adopted. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.