Honorable Jim Keffer, Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB928 by Guillen (relating to state and local planning for and responses to drought.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would partially implement recommendations in the report "Improve State and Local Drought Planning to More Effectively Manage Water Resources" in the Legislative Budget Board's Government Effectiveness and Efficiency Report, submitted to the Eighty-fourth Texas Legislature, 2015.
The bill would require the Water Conservation Advisory Council (WCAC) to monitor and recommend strategies to respond to drought and recommend methodologies for conducting drought contingency plan evaluations. The bill amends provisions in the Texas Water Code related to drought contingency plans, providing that entities may review and update their drought contingency plan and submit the plan to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), as well as include an evaluation of the effectiveness of previously implemented drought strategies. Wholesale or retail public water suppliers would notify TCEQ not later than 5 business days after the supplier implements changes or ceases to implement mandatory provisions in their plan. Additional drought-related information would be posted on the TCEQ website. The bill would require the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), TCEQ, and WCAC to review and update the water conservation Best Management Practices Guide and to include best management practices for drought response.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2015.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
580 Water Development Board, 582 Commission on Environmental Quality