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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to interstate cooperation to address regional water |
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issues. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 8, Water Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 8. SOUTHWESTERN STATES WATER [MULTI-STATE WATER RESOURCES
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PLANNING] COMMISSION |
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SECTION 2. Section 8.001(1), Water Code, is amended to read |
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as follows: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Southwestern States Water |
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[Multi-State Water Resources Planning] Commission. |
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SECTION 3. Section 8.011, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8.011. CREATION OF COMMISSION. The Southwestern |
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States Water [Multi-State Water Resources Planning] Commission is |
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created as an advisory commission to the governor and the |
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legislature [agency of the state]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 8.013, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8.013. COMMISSIONERS [MEMBERS OF COMMISSION]; |
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APPOINTMENT. [(a)] The commission is composed of six [seven] |
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commissioners. Two commissioners [who] are appointed by the |
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governor, two commissioners are appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor, and two commissioners are appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives [with the advice and consent of the
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senate]. |
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[(b)
The governor shall make the appointments so that each
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member is from a different section of the state.
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[(c)
Three commissioners must be members of the general
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public, one commissioner must have a background in the field of
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higher education, one commissioner must have a background in
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private business, one commissioner must have a background in
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agriculture, and one commissioner must have a background in an
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energy-related field.] |
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SECTION 5. Section 8.015, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8.015. TERMS [OF OFFICE]. (a) Commissioners serve |
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[hold office] for staggered terms of six years, with the terms of |
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two or three commissioners expiring on February 1 of each |
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odd-numbered year. |
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(b) Each commissioner serves [holds office] until the |
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commissioner's [his] successor is appointed [and has qualified for
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office]. |
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(c) A [If a] vacancy on the commission [occurs in the office
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of commissioner, the governor] shall be filled [appoint a successor
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to serve] for the unexpired portion of the term in the same manner |
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as the original appointment. |
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SECTION 6. Section 8.051, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8.051. INTERACTION WITH OTHER STATES. (a) In |
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cooperation with representatives of neighboring states, the |
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commission shall study the water needs of the region, including: |
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(1) water needs for environmental purposes; |
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(2) the effect of energy production on the need for |
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water; |
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(3) the effect of take or pay provisions in water |
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supply contracts on the need for water; and |
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(4) rights to and uses of water [after the year 2000]. |
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(b) The commission shall initiate and carry out discussions |
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with representatives of neighboring states relating to: |
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(1) the identification and development of sources and |
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methods of augmenting water supplies on a regional basis after |
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existing water supplies are fully committed, including: |
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(A) innovative methods or alternative |
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technologies for augmenting water supplies, such as aquifer storage |
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and recovery, desalination, and weather modification; |
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(B) management of snow; |
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(C) conservation and reuse of water; and |
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(D) transfers of water from agricultural to urban |
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areas; |
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(2) water planning, including drought contingency |
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planning; |
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(3) funding for water supply projects; and |
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(4) legislation needed to address water supply needs. |
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SECTION 7. Section 8.052, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8.052. INTERACTION WITH MEXICO. The commission shall |
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[contract and] confer with the government of Mexico concerning |
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water needs and development of sources of water supply. |
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SECTION 8. Section 8.056, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8.056. COMPACTS. The commission shall contact and |
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negotiate with other states regarding the need for establishing |
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interstate compacts, addressing groundwater problems, needs, and |
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supplies, if an aquifer underlies several states, and addressing |
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other related subjects that would be beneficial to the states |
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including the conservation and beneficial use of water and the |
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issues identified in Section 8.051(b). |
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SECTION 9. Section 8.014, Water Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 10. (a) Promptly after this Act takes effect, the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall appoint the initial members of the |
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Southwestern States Water Commission under Chapter 8, Water Code, |
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as amended by this Act. |
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(b) In appointing the initial members of the commission: |
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(1) the governor shall appoint one person to a term |
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expiring February 1, 2015, and one person to a term expiring |
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February 1, 2017; |
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(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint one person |
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to a term expiring February 1, 2015, and one person to a term |
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expiring February 1, 2019; and |
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(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint one person to a term expiring February 1, 2017, and one |
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person to a term expiring February 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 11. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |