79R6796 RMB-F


By:  Callegari                                                    H.B. No. 1518



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to exempting interbasin transfers of water rights within 
certain regional water planning areas from certain priority 
requirements.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 11.085, Water Code, is amended by adding 
Subsection (w) to read as follows:
	(w)  Subsections (s) and (t) do not apply to a proposed 
transfer between river basins that are located wholly or partly 
within a single regional water planning area designated in 
accordance with Section 16.053 if the regional water planning area 
contains within its boundaries:
		(1)  one or more classes of groundwater users that are 
subject to a regulatory requirement to reduce groundwater usage due 
wholly or partly to land subsidence, either at the time of the 
proposed transfer or at a later specified date;
		(2)  all or part of a county with a population of more 
than 3.3 million; and
		(3)  all or part of at least three river basins.                       
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by Section 11.085(w), 
Water Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a proposed 
interbasin transfer of water to which that section applies, the 
application for a permit for which is:
		(1)  submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental 
Quality on or after the effective date of this Act; or
		(2)  pending before the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality on the effective date of this Act.
	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, 2005.