BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 2108

80R1231 ACP-F                                                                                                  By: Puente (Uresti)

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                            5/14/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

S.B. 2 (77th Legislature, 2001) directed the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, and the Texas Water Development Board to jointly establish and to continuously maintain an analysis to determine appropriate methodologies for determining flow conditions in the state's rivers and streams necessary to support a sound ecological environment.  The agencies did not receive appropriations to complete those tasks.  Due to the funding limitations, legislative action, and extensive peer review of the proposed methodology, the December 31, 2010, deadline will not be met.

 

H.B. 2108  extends the deadline for the completion of the priority studies regarding appropriate methodologies for determining flow conditions in the state's rivers and streams necessary to support a sound ecological environment to December 31, 2016, rather than December 31, 2010.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 16.059(d), Water Code, to require the priority studies regarding appropriate methodologies for determining flow conditions in the state's rivers and streams necessary to support a sound ecological environment to be completed not later than December 31, 2016, rather than December 31, 2010.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.