BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                      S.B. 1709

                                                                                                                                          By: Staples

S/C on Agriculture & Coastal Resources

4/6/2005

As Filed

AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Dry litter poultry facilities are managed in a manner that does not pose risk to water sources.  As proposed, S.B. 1709 adds a definition for liquid waste handling systems and clarifies that dry litter poultry facilities are exempted from regulation under Chapter 26, Water Code, by explicitly exempting poultry operations that do not use a liquid waste handling system.

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 26.0286, Water Code, to define "liquid waste handling system."  Adds Subsection (d) to provide that this section (regarding permits for certain concentrated animal feeding operations) does not apply to a poultry operation that does not use a liquid waste handling system.

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2005.