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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the priority applicable to certain interbasin transfers |
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of water. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 11.085(s) and (t), Water Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(s) This subsection does not apply to a transfer of water |
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between the Red River basin and the Trinity River basin. Any |
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proposed transfer of all or a portion of a water right under this |
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section is junior in priority to water rights granted before the |
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time application for transfer is accepted for filing. |
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(t) This subsection does not apply to a transfer of water |
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between the Red River basin and the Trinity River basin. Any |
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proposed transfer of all or a portion of a water right under this |
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section from a river basin in which two or more river authorities or |
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water districts created under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas |
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Constitution, have written agreements or permits that provide for |
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the coordinated operation of their respective reservoirs to |
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maximize the amount of water for beneficial use within their |
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respective water services areas shall be junior in priority to |
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water rights granted before the time application for transfer is |
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accepted for filing. |
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SECTION 2. (a) This Act applies only to an application for |
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a water right or an amendment to a permit, certified filing, or |
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certificate of adjudication authorizing an interbasin transfer of |
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water that is accepted for filing on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. |
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(b) An application for a water right or an amendment to a |
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permit, certified filing, or certificate of adjudication |
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authorizing an interbasin transfer of water that is accepted for |
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filing before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law |
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in effect at the time the application is accepted for filing, and |
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the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |