By: Larson, Villalba (Senate Sponsor - Uresti) H.B. No. 2133

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2013; May 10, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; May 22, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 22, 2013, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 2133 By: Uresti

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the public policy for the use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies for water development purposes and to the establishment of the Texas Center for Innovative Desalination Technology.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1.003, Water Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 1.003. PUBLIC POLICY. It is the public policy of the state to provide for the conservation and development of the state's natural resources, including:

(1) the control, storage, preservation, and distribution of the state's storm and floodwaters and the waters of its rivers and streams for irrigation, power, and other useful purposes;

(2) the reclamation and irrigation of the state's arid, semiarid, and other land needing irrigation;

(3) the reclamation and drainage of the state's overflowed land and other land needing drainage;

(4) the conservation and development of its forest, water, and hydroelectric power;

(5) the navigation of the state's inland and coastal waters;

(6) the maintenance of a proper ecological environment of the bays and estuaries of Texas and the health of related living marine resources;

(7) the voluntary stewardship of public and private lands to benefit waters of the state; [and]

(8) the promotion of rainwater harvesting for potable and nonpotable purposes at public and private facilities in this state, including residential, commercial, and industrial buildings;

(9) the facilitation of the efficient and effective use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies whenever possible to meet the natural resource needs of this state; and

(10) the promotion of direct reuse of reclaimed water for nonpotable purposes whenever possible to enhance and preserve the state's freshwater supply.

SECTION 2. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter J to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE

DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 111.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Boards" means the board of regents of the University of Houston System and the board of regents of The University of Texas System.

(2) "Center" means the Texas Center for Innovative Desalination Technology established under this subchapter.

Sec. 111.132. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Center for Innovative Desalination Technology is established as a partnership between the University of Houston, The University of Texas at Brownsville, and The University of Texas at El Paso.

(b) The organization, control, and management of the center are vested in the boards, and the respective institutions shall execute a memorandum of understanding for that purpose.

(c) The center shall be hosted by the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering, The University of Texas at Brownsville's College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology, and The University of Texas at El Paso's Center for Inland Desalination Systems. Participation in the center's activities shall be open to any faculty or staff member of each host university who is an active researcher in the field of water desalination, engineering, hydrology, biology, water supply development, or energy efficiency, or in another relevant field as determined by the boards.

Sec. 111.133. PURPOSE. The center is created to:

(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education, and training for the development of state-of-the-art products, materials, systems, and technologies designed for the desalination of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish water within surface and groundwater resources throughout the state; and

(2) develop cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally sound water desalination, brine disposal, and water conveyance technologies that can enhance the potential for desalinated water to contribute toward the state's long-term water portfolio.

Sec. 111.134. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall:

(1) collaborate with appropriate international, federal, state, and local agencies and private business or nonprofit entities as necessary to develop innovative desalination technologies;

(2) research and develop innovative seawater and brackish water desalination technologies, including pretreatment technologies and improvements, that are energy efficient and cost effective, minimize environmental impacts, and offer long-term water supply solutions for the state;

(3) research and develop brine disposal and reuse methods and technologies;

(4) research and develop water conveyance systems and technologies that may be used to transport desalinated water to target use populations;

(5) develop test facilities for evaluating the performance of new products, materials, or techniques;

(6) develop specifications and standards for products used for desalinating water, conveying water, and disposing of brine;

(7) provide public information, education, and outreach regarding desalination technologies and appropriate uses and conservation methods for desalinated water; and

(8) provide data, recommendations, and any other information necessary relating to desalination for local, regional, or statewide water planning programs and processes.

Sec. 111.135. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The University of Houston, The University of Texas at Brownsville, and The University of Texas at El Paso shall encourage public and private entities to participate in or support the operation of the center and may enter into an agreement with any public or private entity for that purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide information, services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange for the entity's participation or support.

Sec. 111.136. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The boards may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private source for the purposes of the center.

Sec. 111.137. PERSONNEL. The boards may employ personnel for the center as necessary.

Sec. 111.138. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires September 1, 2023.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

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