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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to water management plans for certain special water |
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authorities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 49.2127 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 49.2127. WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL |
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WATER AUTHORITIES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Authority" means a special water authority to |
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which this section applies under Subsection (b). |
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(2) "Firm water" means a supply of stored water that |
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could be supplied without shortage during each year of a simulated |
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repeat of the drought of record, while honoring all senior water |
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rights. During a drought of record, the supply of water for firm |
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water customers has a higher priority than that of interruptible |
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water customers. |
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(3) "Interruptible water" means a stored supply of |
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water for customers of an authority that must be curtailed before |
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the authority curtails firm water supplies. |
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(b) This section applies only to a special water authority |
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whose water management plan consists of a reservoir operation plan |
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for the operation of two water supply reservoirs and was: |
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(1) developed by an applicant for a permit under |
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Chapter 11; and |
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(2) originally required by a court order adjudicating |
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the water rights for those reservoirs. |
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(c) An authority's water management plan must: |
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(1) ensure that adequate firm water supplies are |
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available to meet the existing and projected demands of firm water |
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customers to the extent: |
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(A) provided by previously adjudicated water |
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rights; and |
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(B) other supplies are not available to the |
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authority to meet those firm water customer demands; and |
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(2) provide for curtailing water supplies under |
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interruptible commitments before requesting that firm water |
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customers institute voluntary drought contingency measures. |
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SECTION 2. A special water authority to which Section |
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49.2127, Water Code, as added by this Act, applies shall adopt or |
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amend its rules and its water management plan as required to |
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implement Section 49.2127, Water Code, as added by this Act. |