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79R1530 SMH-D

By:  Campbell                                                     H.B. No. 578



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a statewide emergency water delivery plan.                        
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended 
by adding Section 16.061 to read as follows:
	Sec. 16.061.  STATEWIDE EMERGENCY WATER DELIVERY.  (a)  The 
board by rule shall require a holder of a surface water permit, a 
certified filing, or a certificate of adjudication for surface 
water, a holder of a permit for the export of groundwater from a 
groundwater conservation district, a retail public water supplier, 
a wholesale water provider, an irrigation district, and any other 
person who is transporting groundwater or surface water 20 miles or 
more to report to the board information, as specified by board rule, 
regarding the location and condition of water pipelines and other 
facilities that can be used for water conveyance.
	(b)  Using the information provided to the board under 
Subsection (a), the board shall prepare a map that:
		(1)  identifies the location and condition of all water 
pipelines and other facilities in the state that can be used to 
convey water, including currently used and abandoned oil, gas, and 
water pipelines; and
		(2)  indicates whether the water pipeline or other 
facility can pump in one direction only or in two.
	(c)  On completion of the map required by Subsection (b) and 
using existing water pipelines and other facilities, the board 
shall design a complete pipeline system that provides each region 
of the state access to an undepletable emergency source of water.  
The design may be coordinated with the design and implementation of 
the Trans-Texas Corridor developed under Chapter 227, 
Transportation Code, and shall take into account any existing or 
potential major source of water in the state, including underused 
surface and groundwater sources and desalination facilities.
	SECTION 2.  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, 2005.