79R7158 QS-D

By:  Puente                                                       H.B. No. 2430



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a rainwater harvesting evaluation 
committee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  (a)  The Texas Water Development Board shall 
establish a Rainwater Harvesting Evaluation Committee to study the 
feasibility of using rainwater as a source of water supply.
	(b)  The committee is composed of four members as follows:                     
		(1)  a representative of the Texas Water Development 
Board, appointed by the board;
		(2)  a representative of the Texas Commission on 
Environmental Quality, appointed by the commission;
		(3)  a representative of the Department of State Health 
Services, appointed by the commissioner of state health services; 
and
		(4)  a representative of the Texas section of the 
American Water Works Association's Conservation and Reuse 
Division, appointed by the governing body of that section.
	(c)  The representative from the Texas Water Development 
Board is the presiding officer of the committee.
	(d)  The committee may request the assistance of outside 
experts or consultants, as necessary.
	(e)  Not later than December 1, 2006, the committee shall 
provide a report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the 
house of representatives.  The report must:
		(1)  evaluate the potential for rainwater harvesting in 
this state; and     
		(2)  recommend:                                                               
			(A)  minimum water quality guidelines and 
standards for potable and nonpotable indoor uses of rainwater;
			(B)  treatment methods for potable and nonpotable 
indoor uses of rainwater;
			(C)  ways, such as dual plumbing systems, to use 
rainwater harvesting systems in conjunction with existing 
municipal water systems for residential, industrial, community, or 
public water supplies; and
			(D)  ways that the state can further promote 
rainwater harvesting.         
	SECTION 2.  This Act expires and the Rainwater Harvesting 
Evaluation Committee is abolished January 1, 2007.
	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.