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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to research on and the treatment of saline water. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 341.001, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended by adding Subdivisions (2-a) and (6-a) to read as follows: |
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(2-a) "Desalination facility" means a facility used |
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for the treatment of saline water to remove dissolved mineral salts |
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and other dissolved solids. |
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(6-a) "Saline water" means water that contains a total |
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dissolved solids concentration of more than 1,000 milligrams per |
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liter. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 341, Health and Safety |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 341.0361 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 341.0361. DESALINATION OF WATER FOR DRINKING WATER. |
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(a) This section applies only to a desalination facility that is |
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intended to produce water for the public drinking water supply. |
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This section does not apply to a desalination facility used to |
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produce nonpotable water. |
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(b) The commission shall adopt rules to: |
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(1) allow water treated by a desalination facility to |
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be used as public drinking water; and |
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(2) ensure that water treated by a desalination |
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facility meets the requirements of Section 341.031 and rules |
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adopted under that section. |
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(c) A person may not begin construction of a desalination |
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facility unless the commission approves in writing the plans and |
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specifications for the facility. |
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(d) A person may not begin construction of a desalination |
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facility that treats saline water for the purpose of removing |
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primary or secondary drinking water contaminants unless the |
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commission approves in writing a report containing: |
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(1) a computer model acceptable to the commission; |
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(2) a pilot study with a minimum 40-day run duration |
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without treatment intervention to meet federal and state safe |
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drinking water standards; |
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(3) data from a similar system installed at another |
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saline water desalination facility that treats source water of a |
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similar or lower quality; or |
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(4) a full-scale verification study with a minimum |
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40-day run duration without treatment intervention to meet federal |
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and state safe drinking water standards. |
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(e) Not later than the 100th day after the date the |
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commission receives the report for a proposed desalination |
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facility, the commission shall review the report and issue an |
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exception response letter that may contain conditions for approval. |
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(f) Not later than the 60th day after the date the |
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commission receives the plans and specifications for a proposed |
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desalination facility, the commission shall review the plans and |
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specifications and issue a response letter that may contain |
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conditions for approval. |
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(g) A person violates this section if the person fails to |
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meet a condition for approval in a letter issued to the person under |
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Subsection (e) or (f). |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE |
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DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY |
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Sec. 111.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Boards" means the board of regents of the |
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University of Houston System and the board of regents of The |
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University of Texas System. |
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(2) "Center" means the Texas Center for Innovative |
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Desalination Technology established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 111.132. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Center for |
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Innovative Desalination Technology is established as a partnership |
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between the University of Houston, The University of Texas at |
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Brownsville, and The University of Texas at El Paso. |
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(b) The organization, control, and management of the center |
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are vested in the boards, and the respective institutions shall |
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execute a memorandum of understanding for that purpose. |
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(c) The center shall be hosted by the University of |
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Houston's Cullen College of Engineering, The University of Texas at |
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Brownsville's College of Science, Mathematics and Technology, and |
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The University of Texas at El Paso's Center for Inland Desalination |
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Systems. Participation in the center's activities shall be open to |
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any faculty or staff member of each host university who is an active |
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researcher in the field of water desalination, engineering, |
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hydrology, biology, water supply development, or energy |
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efficiency, or in another relevant field as determined by the |
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boards. |
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Sec. 111.133. PURPOSE. The center is created to: |
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(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education, |
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and training for the development of state-of-the-art products, |
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materials, systems, and technologies designed for the desalination |
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of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish water within |
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surface and groundwater resources throughout the state; and |
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(2) develop cost-effective, energy-efficient, and |
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environmentally sound water desalination, brine disposal, and |
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water conveyance technologies that can enhance the potential for |
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desalinated water to contribute toward the state's long-term water |
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portfolio. |
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Sec. 111.134. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall: |
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(1) collaborate with appropriate international, |
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federal, state, and local agencies and private business or |
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nonprofit entities as necessary to develop innovative desalination |
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technologies; |
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(2) research and develop innovative seawater and |
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brackish water desalination technologies, including pretreatment |
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technologies and improvements, that are energy efficient and cost |
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effective, minimize environmental impacts, and offer long-term |
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water supply solutions for the state; |
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(3) research and develop brine disposal and reuse |
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methods and technologies; |
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(4) research and develop water conveyance systems and |
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technologies that may be used to transport desalinated water to |
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target use populations; |
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(5) develop test facilities for evaluating the |
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performance of new products, materials, or techniques; |
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(6) develop specifications and standards for products |
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used for desalinating water, conveying water, and disposing of |
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brine; |
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(7) provide public information, education, and |
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outreach regarding desalination technologies and appropriate uses |
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and conservation methods for desalinated water; and |
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(8) provide data, recommendations, and any other |
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information necessary relating to desalination for local, |
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regional, or statewide water planning programs and processes. |
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Sec. 111.135. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The |
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University of Houston, The University of Texas at Brownsville, and |
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The University of Texas at El Paso shall encourage public and |
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private entities to participate in or support the operation of the |
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center and may enter into an agreement with any public or private |
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entity for that purpose. An agreement may allow the center to |
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provide information, services, or other assistance to an entity in |
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exchange for the entity's participation or support. |
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Sec. 111.136. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The boards may solicit, |
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accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private |
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source for the purposes of the center. |
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Sec. 111.137. PERSONNEL. The boards may employ personnel |
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for the center as necessary. |
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Sec. 111.138. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |