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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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r |
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elating to the planning and funding of water projects to be |
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constructed in a region other than the region proposing the |
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project. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.053(e-1), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(e-1) A regional water plan may not include a proposal for |
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the construction of a water project in another regional water |
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planning area unless at least two-thirds of the members of the |
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regional water planning group for that area have consented to the |
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inclusion of the proposal in the plan [On request of the Texas Water
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Advisory Council, a regional planning group shall provide the
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council a copy of that planning group's regional water plan]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 16.053(h)(4), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(4) After the regional water plan is initially |
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prepared, the regional water planning group shall submit a copy of |
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the plan to the board. The board shall submit comments on the |
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regional water plan as to whether the plan meets the requirements of |
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Subsections (e) and (e-1) [Subsection (e) of this section]. |
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SECTION 3. Section 16.053(j), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(j) The board may provide financial assistance to political |
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subdivisions under Subchapters E and F of this chapter, Subchapters |
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C, D, E, F, J, O, Q, and R, Chapter 15, and Subchapters D, I, K, and |
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L, Chapter 17, for water supply projects only if: |
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(1) the board determines that the needs to be |
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addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is |
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consistent with the state water plan; |
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(2) beginning January 5, 2002[, the board]: |
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(A) the board has approved a regional water plan |
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as provided by Subsection (i), and any required updates of the plan, |
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for the region of the state that includes the area benefiting from |
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the proposed project; [and] |
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(B) if the proposed project is to be constructed |
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in a regional water planning area other than the area benefiting |
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from the proposed project, at least two-thirds of the members of the |
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regional water planning group for the area in which the proposed |
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project is to be constructed have consented to the inclusion in that |
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regional water plan of the proposal to construct the project as |
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required by Subsection (e-1); and |
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(C) the board determines that the needs to be |
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addressed by the project will be addressed in a manner that is |
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consistent with that regional water plan; and |
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(3) the board finds that the water audit required |
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under Section 16.0121 has been completed and filed. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |