81R5438 HLT-D
 
  By: Wentworth S.B. No. 2102
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to an exemption from permitting requirements of the
  Edwards Aquifer Authority for certain wells owned by a charitable
  organization.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1.15(b), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Sections 1.17, [and] 1.33, and
  1.337 of this article, a person may not withdraw water from the
  aquifer or begin construction of a well or other works designed for
  the withdrawal of water from the aquifer without obtaining a permit
  from the authority.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature,
  Regular Session, 1993, is amended by adding Section 1.337 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 1.337.  EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN WELLS OWNED BY CHARITABLE
  ORGANIZATIONS FROM PERMIT REQUIREMENTS. (a) Notwithstanding
  Section 1.14(e) of this article, an owner of a well is exempt from
  the requirement to obtain a permit for the well from the authority
  if the well:
               (1)  is owned by an organization recognized by the
  Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization under Section
  501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
               (2)  was in existence and owned by the charitable
  organization before January 1, 2008; and
               (3)  produces less than one acre-foot of water per
  year.
         (b)  A well described by Subsection (a) of this section is
  not exempt from metering requirements applicable to a nonexempt
  well under Section 1.31 of this article.
         (c)  An owner of a well described by Subsection (a) of this
  section shall file with the authority a written report of water use
  in the manner required by Section 1.32 of this article for a holder
  of a permit.
         (d)  When a critical period stage is in effect, the authority
  may require an owner of a well that qualifies for exemption under
  Subsection (a) of this section to reduce groundwater withdrawals
  from the well.
         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, 2009.