BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2378

By: Larson

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note the need for the term of a groundwater export permit to coincide with the term of the operating permit under which the exported water is produced. H.B. 2378 seeks to address this issue by providing for certain extension of the term of an export permit.

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.

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.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2378 amends the Water Code to require a term regarding the period for which water may be transferred out of a groundwater conservation district under a permit to be automatically extended on or before the term's expiration to a term that is not shorter than the term of an operating permit for the production of water to be transferred that is in effect at the time of the extension and for each additional term for which that operating permit for production is renewed without a permit amendment or remains in effect. The bill establishes that a permit automatically extended as such continues to be subject to conditions contained in the permit as issued before the automatic extension. The bill applies only to the term of a permit that expires after September 1, 2017.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.