By:  Cook of Colorado                                             H.B. No. 3036



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the privacy of site-specific groundwater information 
gathered on private property.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Amend Section 16.012, Water Code by adding a new 
Subsection (n) to read as follows:
	(n)  Information collected by the executive administrator 
for use in the development of groundwater availability models under 
subsection (l) of this section that reveals site-specific landowner 
information is not subject to Chapter 552, Government Code, and may 
not be disclosed to any person, provided that the landowner has 
requested that such information be deemed confidential.  The 
executive administrator or his designee shall advise the landowner 
of the right to request that information be deemed confidential 
under this subsection at the time that the permission is requested 
from the landowner to conduct groundwater studies or surveys on the 
landowner's property.  If a landowner requests that his or her 
information not be disclosed, the executive administrator may 
release information regarding groundwater information only if the 
information is summarized in a manner that prevents the 
identification of an individual or specific parcel of land and the 
landowner.  This subsection does not apply to a parcel of land that 
is publicly owned.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.