| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the applicability of certain provisions concerning the |
|
|
transfer of exotic species to certain transfers of water that |
|
|
supply populous areas. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 66.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Subsection (m) to read as follows: |
|
|
(m) A water transfer described by this subsection, without |
|
|
evidence of the introduction of an exotic fish or shellfish, is not |
|
|
a violation of this section. The department may not require a |
|
|
permit under this section for a water transfer described by this |
|
|
subsection. This subsection applies to a water transfer by a |
|
|
district or authority created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas |
|
|
Constitution, that: |
|
|
(1) is initially conveyed by a water intake structure |
|
|
that is: |
|
|
(A) shared by at least two districts or |
|
|
authorities; and |
|
|
(B) located on a reservoir situated on the |
|
|
boundary of this state and another state; |
|
|
(2) uses a closed conveyance system approved by the |
|
|
United States Army Corps of Engineers in accordance with an |
|
|
invasive species management plan approved by the United States Army |
|
|
Corps of Engineers; and |
|
|
(3) contributes to a water supply that serves at least |
|
|
1.5 million people, all of whom reside in an area that: |
|
|
(A) borders another state; |
|
|
(B) contains at least 10 contiguous counties; |
|
|
(C) contains at least one county with a |
|
|
population of more than one million; and |
|
|
(D) is adjacent to a county with a population of |
|
|
more than one million. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |