By: Fraser S.B. No. 18
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to water management plans for certain special water
  authorities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 49.2127 to read as follows:
         Sec. 49.2127.  WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL
  WATER AUTHORITIES.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Authority" means a special water authority to
  which this section applies under Subsection (b).
               (2)  "Firm water" means a supply of stored water that
  could be supplied without shortage during each year of a simulated
  repeat of the drought of record, while honoring all senior water
  rights.  During a drought of record, the supply of water for firm
  water customers has a higher priority than that of interruptible
  water customers.
               (3)  "Interruptible water" means a stored supply of
  water for customers of an authority that must be curtailed before
  the authority curtails firm water supplies.
         (b)  This section applies only to a special water authority
  whose water management plan consists of a reservoir operation plan
  for the operation of two water supply reservoirs and was:
               (1)  developed by an applicant for a permit under
  Chapter 11; and
               (2)  originally required by a court order adjudicating
  the water rights for those reservoirs.
         (c)  An authority's water management plan must:
               (1)  ensure that adequate firm water supplies are
  available to meet the existing and projected demands of firm water
  customers to the extent:
                     (A)  provided by previously adjudicated water
  rights; and
                     (B)  other supplies are not available to the
  authority to meet those firm water customer demands; and
               (2)  provide for curtailing water supplies under
  interruptible commitments before requesting that firm water
  customers institute voluntary drought contingency measures.
         SECTION 2.  A special water authority to which Section
  49.2127, Water Code, as added by this Act, applies shall adopt or
  amend its rules and its water management plan as required to
  implement Section 49.2127, Water Code, as added by this Act.