BILL ANALYSIS |
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S.B. 991 |
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By: Rodríguez |
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Land & Resource Management |
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Committee Report (Unamended) |
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties note that fossil-fueled
electricity production used to power desalination plants is water-intensive,
making for an inefficient desalination process in which water is being used
to desalinate water. The parties assert that coupling desalination with
certain renewable energy resources would allow for a freshwater production process
that requires much less water.
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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.
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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.
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ANALYSIS
S.B. 991 requires the General Land Office (GLO) in consultation with the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to conduct a study regarding the use of wind or solar power to desalinate brackish groundwater on real property owned by the state. The bill authorizes the GLO and the TWDB to request data from any state agency in conducting the study and requires an agency receiving such a request to provide the requested data. The bill authorizes the GLO to coordinate with a research division of a university in conducting the study. The bill requires the GLO, not later than December 31, 2016, to report the results of the study to the governor and the legislature and prohibits the report from disclosing information that is excepted from state public information law relating to the availability of public information during the normal business hours of a governmental body.
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EFFECTIVE DATE
On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.
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