SRC-TAG S.B. 1698 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1698
78R6683 MI-FBy: Wentworth
Natural Resources
4/9/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires groundwater conservation districts to submit
groundwater management plans, with certain goals, to the executive
administrator of the Texas Water Development Board for review and
certification.  However, there is no formal review for the quality or
appropriateness of the submitted plan.  As proposed, S.B. 1698 requires a
groundwater conservation district to develop goals for groundwater
management plans. 

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(a), Water Code, to require the
groundwater conservation district (district), following notice and
hearing, in coordination with surface water management entities on a
regional basis, to develop a comprehensive management plan which contains
a management goal describing the desired future condition for the aquifer
in quantified terms and which address certain management goals. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 36.1072, Water Code, by amending Subsection (b)
and adding Subsections (h), (i), and (j), as follows: 

(b)  Requires the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development
Board (executive administrator), within 150 days, rather than 60 days,
after receiving  a management plan adopted under Section 36.1071, to
certify a management plan if the plan is administratively complete and if
the review committee has made the findings required by Subsection (i).
Authorizes the executive administrator to determine that conditions
justify waiver of the requirements under Section 36.1071(e)(4) or justify
certification of the management plan without the findings required by
Subsection (i). 

(h)  Requires the executive administrator to organize a review committee
to make recommendations regarding  management plans submitted for
certification.  Requires the review committee to be composed of certain
individuals. 

(i)  Requires the review committee established under Subsection (h) to
recommend that the executive administrator certify a management plan only
if the committee makes certain findings. 

(j)  Authorizes the board of a water district (board) to reimburse the
person selected to serve on the review committee under Subsection (h)(4)
for the reasonable costs incurred for travel, lodging, and meals in
serving on the review committee. 

SECTION 3. (a)   Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.

(b)  Provides that the changes in law made by this Act apply only to a
management plan submitted under Section 36.1071, Water Code, on or after
the effective date of this Act.