S.B. 1899 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1899 By: Staples Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the Pineywoods Groundwater Conservation District (district) is authorized to adopt rules requiring a permit to transport groundwater out of the district. S.B. 1899 provides that a retail public utility is not required to obtain a permit to transfer groundwater out of the district if the water is used by the retail public utility to provide retail water utility service in a service area located in a county adjacent to the district. 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 5(b), Chapter 1330, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, to provide that a retail public utility as defined by Section 13.002, Water Code, is not required to obtain a permit to transfer groundwater out of the Pineywoods Groundwater Conservation District (district) if certain conditions exist, including the water is used by the retail public utility to provide retail water utility service, as defined by Section 13.002, Water Code, in a service area located in a county adjacent to the district. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage or September 1, 2003.