BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2364

By: Christian

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, when the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) acquires information that confirms that a potential public health hazard exists because usable groundwater has been or is being contaminated, the executive director is required to give written notice to the county judge and county health officer in each county in which the contamination has occurred or is occurring, any person under TCEQ's jurisdiction who is suspected of contributing to the contamination, and any state agency with jurisdiction over any person who is suspected of contributing to the contamination. H.B. 2364 seeks to add to the entities the executive director is required to contact each groundwater district with authority to regulate water wells located in the area affected by the groundwater that has been or is being contaminated.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2364 amends the Water Code, in a provision listing the persons the executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is required to notify if the executive director acquires information that confirms that a potential health hazard exists because usable groundwater has been contaminated, to add each groundwater district with authority under the Water Code or other law to regulate water wells located in the area affected by the contaminated groundwater to the list of persons to be notified.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2011.