S.B. 1570 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1570 By: Madla Natural Resources Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 77th Texas Legislature created the Trinity Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District (district) to address critical, or future critical, water shortage in the area. The legislation also provided that under certain conditions, a public water supply well is exempt from regulation by the district and from payment of fees to the district. S.B. 1570 clarifies the conditions for exemption by defining a timely completed well. 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 SECTION 1. Amends Section 16, Chapter 1312, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, by adding Subsection (e) to clarify Subsection (a) (2) in accordance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's technical requirements by defining the level of well installation and the deadline for completion required to qualify for exemption. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003 EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment No. 1 provides that the district shall not prohibit the sale, purchase, lease, or trade of groundwater by a private well owner under this section.