By:  Madla, Wentworth                                             S.B. No. 1562


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the transportation of groundwater withdrawn from the 
Edwards Aquifer and to transfers of permits issued by the Edwards 
Aquifer Authority.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 1.28(b), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as follows:
	(b)  The authority may issue revenue bonds to finance the 
purchase of land or the purchase, construction, or installation of 
facilities or equipment.  [The authority may not allow for any 
person to construct, acquire, or own facilities for transporting 
groundwater out of Uvalde County or Medina County.]
	SECTION 2.  Section 1.34, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd 
Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended by amending 
Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(c)  A permit holder may transfer [lease] permitted water 
rights, but a holder of a permit or interim authorization that 
authorizes the use of groundwater for irrigation [use] may not 
transfer [lease] more than 50 percent of the irrigation rights 
initially permitted.  The user's remaining irrigation water rights 
may not be put to a use other than irrigation while the land 
described in the application for the initial regular permit is used 
for agricultural purposes.  If the land is wholly withdrawn from 
agricultural use, the remaining water rights are transferable [must 
be used in accordance with the original permit and must pass with 
transfer of the irrigated land].
	(d)  A person who transfers a permit or interim authorization 
to withdraw groundwater from the San Antonio pool to a well that 
draws from the Uvalde pool may not transport groundwater withdrawn 
under the transferred permit or interim authorization out of the 
county where the well that draws from the Uvalde pool is located.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.