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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to water conservation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 10, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 10.0021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 10.0021. SUNSET PROVISION. The Water Conservation |
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Advisory Council is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas |
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Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that |
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chapter, the council is abolished and this chapter expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. Section 10.011, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 10.011. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each |
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even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a |
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report on progress made in water conservation in this state. The |
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report must include specific statutory, budgetary, and policy |
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recommendations to improve water conservation and management. |
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SECTION 3. Section 16.0121, Water Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (g) and (h) to read as follows: |
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(g) A retail public utility providing potable water that |
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receives from the board financial assistance shall use a portion of |
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that financial assistance, or any additional financial assistance |
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provided by the board for the purpose described by this subsection, |
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to mitigate the utility's system water loss if, based on a water |
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audit filed by the utility under this section, the water loss meets |
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or exceeds the threshold established by board rule. |
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(h) For each category of retail public utility listed in |
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Subsection (c), the board shall adopt rules regarding: |
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(1) the amount of system water loss that requires a |
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utility to take action under Subsection (g); and |
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(2) the use of financial assistance from the board as |
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required by Subsection (g) to mitigate system water loss. |
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SECTION 4. Subsection (h), Section 16.055, Water Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(h) On receipt of the notice under Subsection (g)(2)(B), a |
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[the] person or entity required to develop a drought contingency |
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plan shall immediately implement the person's or entity's [water
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conservation plan or drought contingency] plan. |
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SECTION 5. Section 17.124, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 17.124. CONSIDERATIONS IN PASSING ON APPLICATIONS. In |
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passing on an application from a political subdivision for |
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financial assistance for a water supply project, the board shall |
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consider: |
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(1) the needs of the area to be served by the water |
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supply project, the benefit of the water supply project to the area, |
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the relationship of the water supply project to the overall, |
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statewide water needs, and the relationship of the water supply |
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project to the state water plan; [and] |
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(2) the availability of revenue to the political |
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subdivision, from all sources, for the ultimate repayment of the |
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cost of the water supply project, including interest; and |
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(3) whether the political subdivision has implemented |
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its drought contingency plan when required. |
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SECTION 6. Subsection (g), Section 16.0121, Water Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to system water loss based on a |
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water audit filed with the Texas Water Development Board under |
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Section 16.0121, Water Code, on or after January 1, 2014. |
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SECTION 7. Not later than January 1, 2014, the Texas Water |
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Development Board shall adopt rules to implement Subsection (h), |
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Section 16.0121, Water Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 8. Section 17.124, Water Code, as amended by this |
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Act, applies only to the consideration of whether a political |
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subdivision has implemented its drought contingency plan on or |
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after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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