BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1629
79R9945 T By: Wentworth
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current Texas law requires groundwater conservation districts to submit groundwater management plans, with certain goals, to the executive director of the Texas Water Development Board for review and certification. However, there is no formal review regarding the quality or appropriateness of the submitted plan.
As proposed, S.B. 1629 requires a groundwater conservation district to develop goals for groundwater management plans.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
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, develop a comprehensive management plan which contains a management goal describing the desired future condition for the aquifer in quantified terms and which addresses specific 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, rather than 60, days of receipt of 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 to the executive administrator for certification. Sets forth the requirements for the composition of the review committee.
(i) Requires the review committee established under Subsection (h) to recommend that the executive administrator certify a management plan only upon making specific findings.
(j) Authorizes the board of directors of the district 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 the review committee.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.
Makes application of this Act prospective.