BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1222

By: Lucio III

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the Texas Water Development Board is authorized to provide financial assistance to political subdivisions under certain statutory provisions for certain water supply projects. The parties note, however, that for various reasons a number of these provisions do not actually provide financial assistance for water supply projects. C.S.H.B. 1222 seeks to clean up the applicable statute.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1222 amends the Water Code to remove the authorization of the Texas Water Development Board to provide financial assistance to political subdivisions for certain water supply projects that are consistent with the state water plan and applicable regional water plan under the water bond insurance program, the research and planning program, and the program for water and wastewater financial assistance for disadvantaged rural communities. The bill specifies that the financial assistance provided for such projects under the financial assistance for the water pollution control program be under the safe drinking water revolving fund.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 1222 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 16.053(j), Water Code, is amended to read as follows: (j) The board may provide financial assistance to political subdivisions under Subchapters E and F of this chapter, Subchapters C, [D,] E, [F, J, O,] Q, and R, Chapter 15, and Subchapters D, I, K, and L, Chapter 17, for water supply projects only if: (1) the board determines that the needs to be addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is consistent with the state water plan; (2) beginning January 5, 2002, the board: (A) has approved a regional water plan as provided by Subsection (i), and any required updates of the plan, for the region of the state that includes the area benefiting from the proposed project; and (B) determines that the needs to be addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is consistent with that regional water plan; and (3) the board finds that the water audit required under Section 16.0121 has been completed and filed.	SECTION 1. Section 16.053(j), Water Code, is amended to read as follows: (j) The board may provide financial assistance to political subdivisions for water supply projects under Subchapter J, Chapter 15, if the financial assistance is under the safe drinking water revolving fund, and for water supply projects under Subchapters E and F of this chapter, Subchapters C, [D,] E, [F, J, O,] Q, and R, Chapter 15, and Subchapters D, I, K, and L, Chapter 17, [for water supply projects] only if: (1) the board determines that the needs to be addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is consistent with the state water plan; (2) beginning January 5, 2002, the board: (A) has approved a regional water plan as provided by Subsection (i), and any required updates of the plan, for the region of the state that includes the area benefiting from the proposed project; and (B) determines that the needs to be addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is consistent with that regional water plan; and (3) the board finds that the water audit required under Section 16.0121 has been completed and filed.
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, 2015.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.