SRC-TJG H.B. 3338 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 3338
78R12672 MTB-FBy: Puente (Armbrister)
Natural Resources
5/21/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 3338 requires water utilities to perform water audits in order to
increase water conservation in Texas.  Water conservation results in
reduced energy use that contributes to improving Texas' air quality as
well as preserving the state's limited water resources. 

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 Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, by adding Section
16.0121, as follows: 

Sec. 16.0121.  WATER AUDITS.  (a) Defines "retail public utility."

(b) Requires a retail public utility providing potable water, every five
years, to perform and file with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) a
water audit computing the utility's most recent annual system water loss. 

(c) Requires TWDB to develop appropriate methodologies and submission
dates for a water audit required under Subsection (b) for certain
categories of retail public utilities. 

(d) Requires TWDB, in developing the methodologies required by Subsection
(c), to ensure that each methodology is financially feasible for the
category of retail public utility for which it is developed and considers
certain differences and other factors determined by TWDB. 

(e) Requires the methodologies required by Subsection (c) to account for
various components of system water loss, including loss from distribution
lines, inaccuracies in meters or accounting practices, and theft. 

(f) Requires TWDB to compile the information included in the water audits
required by Subsection (b) according to category of retail public utility
and according to regional water planning area.  Requires the regional
planning group for a regional planning area to use the information to
identify appropriate water management strategies in the development of a
regional water plan under Section 16.053. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 16.053(j), Water Code, to authorize TWDB to
provide financial assistance to political subdivisions under Subchapters E
and F of this chapter, Subchapters C, D, E, F, J, O, and P, Chapter 15,
and Subchapters D, I, K, and L, Chapter 17, for water supply projects only
if certain conditions apply. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.