By: Lucio III (Senate Sponsor - Estes) H.B. No. 1232

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2015; May 7, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs; May 12, 2015, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2015, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board of the hydrology and geology of the confined and unconfined aquifers in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. (a) The Texas Water Development Board shall conduct a study of the hydrology and geology of the confined and unconfined aquifers in this state to determine:

(1) the quality and quantity of groundwater in those aquifers, specifically regarding the salinity of those aquifers;

(2) whether those aquifers are tributary or non-tributary;

(3) the contribution of those aquifers to any surface flow of any water in this state; and

(4) the contribution of those aquifers to any other aquifer in this state.

(b) In conducting the study, the board shall produce:

(1) a map that identifies the area and water quality of the confined and unconfined aquifers in this state;

(2) a map that identifies which aquifers are tributary and which are non-tributary; and

(3) a report on the contribution of those aquifers to any other aquifer in this state.

(c) Before conducting the study, the board shall determine the minimum rate at which an aquifer must contribute to another aquifer in this state or to the surface flow of any water in this state in order to be included in the study.

SECTION 2. Not later than December 31, 2016, the Texas Water Development Board shall report the results of the study conducted under this Act to the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the standing committees of the senate and the house of representatives that have jurisdiction over natural resources.

SECTION 3. 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.

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