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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the criteria to be used by the Texas Water Development |
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Board in prioritizing applications for funds for the implementation |
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of water supply projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 15.9751 and 16.1311, Water Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 15.9751. PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN APPLICATIONS [WATER
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CONSERVATION]. The board shall give priority to applications for |
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funds for the implementation of water supply projects in the state |
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water plan that meet one or more of the following criteria: |
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(1) the applicant is an entity [by entities] that: |
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(A) has [(1) have] already demonstrated |
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significant water conservation savings; or |
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(B) [(2)] will achieve significant water |
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conservation savings by implementing the proposed project for which |
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the financial assistance is sought; |
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(2) state funding is needed for the project; |
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(3) the project is designed to address a water supply |
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need that has already arisen or will arise in the short term; |
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(4) improved efficiency in the use of water will not |
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achieve the same results as the project; |
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(5) the project is cost-effective; |
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(6) the applicant has ensured that the water supplied |
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by the project will be used efficiently; |
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(7) the effect of the project on the environment will |
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be minimal; |
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(8) the project will not impair existing supplies of |
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surface water or groundwater; or |
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(9) the project will not impair springflows or |
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instream flows. |
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Sec. 16.1311. PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN APPLICATIONS [WATER
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CONSERVATION]. The board shall give priority to applications for |
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funds for implementation of water supply projects in the state |
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water plan that meet one or more of the following criteria: |
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(1) the applicant is an entity [by entities] that: |
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(A) has [(1) have] already demonstrated |
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significant water conservation savings; or |
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(B) [(2)] will achieve significant water |
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conservation savings by implementing the proposed project for which |
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the financial assistance is sought; |
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(2) state funding is needed for the project; |
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(3) the project is designed to address a water supply |
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need that has already arisen or will arise in the short term; |
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(4) improved efficiency in the use of water will not |
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achieve the same results as the project; |
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(5) the project is cost-effective; |
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(6) the applicant has ensured that the water supplied |
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by the project will be used efficiently; |
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(7) the effect of the project on the environment will |
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be minimal; |
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(8) the project will not impair existing supplies of |
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surface water or groundwater; or |
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(9) the project will not impair springflows or |
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instream flows. |
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SECTION 2. Section 17.125(b-2), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b-2) The board shall give priority to applications for |
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funds for implementation of water supply projects in the state |
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water plan that meet one or more of the following criteria: |
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(1) the applicant is an entity [by entities] that: |
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(A) has [(1) have] already demonstrated |
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|
significant water conservation savings; or |
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(B) [(2)] will achieve significant water |
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conservation savings by implementing the proposed project for which |
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|
the financial assistance is sought; |
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(2) state funding is needed for the project; |
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(3) the project is designed to address a water supply |
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need that has already arisen or will arise in the short term; |
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(4) improved efficiency in the use of water will not |
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achieve the same results as the project; |
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(5) the project is cost-effective; |
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(6) the applicant has ensured that the water supplied |
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by the project will be used efficiently; |
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(7) the effect of the project on the environment will |
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be minimal; |
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(8) the project will not impair existing supplies of |
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surface water or groundwater; or |
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(9) the project will not impair springflows or |
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instream flows. |
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SECTION 3. This Act applies only to an application for |
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financial assistance filed with the Texas Water Development Board |
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on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for |
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financial assistance filed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |