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.