S.B. No. 281

AN ACT

relating to the administration and powers of the Red River Authority of Texas.

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

SECTION 1. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Section 7a to read as follows:

Sec. 7a. The Authority's Board of Directors or a Board committee may hold a meeting by telephone conference call, by video conference call, or through communications over the Internet, in accordance with procedures provided by Subchapter F, Chapter 551, Government Code, if holding the meeting in that way is determined to be necessary or convenient by the Board president or any three Board members.

SECTION 2. Section 19, Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 19. Said Authority shall have and may exercise such functions, powers, authority, rights and duties as may permit the accomplishment of the purposes for which it is created, including investigating and planning, acquiring, constructing, maintaining and operating of all necessary properties, lands, rights, tenements, easements, improvements, reservoirs, dams, canals, laterals, plants, works and facilities which it may deem necessary or proper for the accomplishment of said purposes, including the acquisition within and/or without said Authority of lands, rights-of-way, surface water rights, groundwater rights, if purchased, as provided by Section 19a, and all other properties, tenements, easements and all other rights incident, helpful to, or in aid of carrying out the purposes of said Authority as herein defined; provided, however, that said Authority shall not engage in the generation or distribution of electric power except as provided by Section 14b of this Act. The right of eminent domain shall not be exercised or extend beyond the boundaries of this District.

SECTION 3. Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended by adding Section 19a to read as follows:

Sec. 19a. The Authority may purchase groundwater rights in a county in the Authority's territory only if:

(1) there is a groundwater conservation district that has jurisdiction over water wells located in the county; or

(2) in the case where a county is not in the jurisdiction of a groundwater conservation district, the commissioners court of the county approves the purchase of groundwater rights by the Authority in the county.

SECTION 4. Section 25, Chapter 279, Acts of the 56th Legislature, Regular Session, 1959, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 25. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as authorizing the Authority to acquire or[,] regulate [or control in any way] underground water or underground water rights by condemnation or [purchase or otherwise or to develop,] regulate [or control] the use of underground water resources in any manner [. This Act is intended to govern and shall be construed to govern and apply to surface water only].

SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

______________________________ ______________________________

President of the Senate Speaker of the House

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 281 passed the Senate on March 26, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; May 21, 2013, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 22, 2013, House granted request of the Senate; May 26, 2013, Senate adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

______________________________ Secretary of the Senate

I hereby certify that S.B. No. 281 passed the House, with amendments, on May 20, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 147, Nays 0, two present not voting; May 22, 2013, House granted request of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee; May 25, 2013, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 1, two present not voting.

______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House

Approved:

______________________________

Date

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Governor