SRC-TAG H.B. 2663 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 2663 78R11003 MI-FBy: Puente (Lucio) Natural Resources 5/10/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The 75th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1, which added Section 11.1272 to the Water Code. Section 11.1272 required each wholesale and retail public water supplier irrigation district to develop a plan regional water plan and to implement the plan during droughts and periods of water shortage. H.B. 2663 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to establish quantifiable goals for drought contingency plans. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 (Section 11.1272, Water Code) of this bill. Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Water Development Board in SECTION 1 (Section 11.1272, Water Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 11.1272, Water Code, by adding Subsections (c), (d), and (e), as follows: (c) Requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to require, not later than May 2005, a drought contingency plan under this section, to include specific, quantified target goals for water use reductions to be achieved during periods of water shortages and drought. Requires the entity preparing the plan to establish the targets. (d) Requires TCEQ and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) by joint rule to identify quantified target goals for drought contingency plans that wholesale and retail public water suppliers, irrigation districts, and other entities may use as guidelines in preparing contingency plans. Provides that the goals established under this subsection are not enforceable requirements. (e) Requires TCEQ and TWDB to jointly to develop model drought contingency programs for different types of water suppliers that suggest best management practices for accomplishing the highest practicable levels of water use reductions achievable during periods of water shortages and drought for each specific type of water supplier. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.