BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4291

By: Schubert

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised that there are disparities among certain groundwater conservation district fees in south central Texas. H.B. 4291 seeks to address this issue by revising the fees that may be imposed by the Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District.

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. 4291 amends the Special District Local Laws Code to add as a purpose for which the Colorado County Groundwater Conservation District may impose property taxes and assess fees the accomplishment of the district's regulatory goals and to authorize the district, for such purposes, to solicit and accept grants from any public or private source. The bill replaces the authorization for the district to assess reasonable fees for services provided and for water withdrawn from each well that is not exempt from district permitting or regulation with an authorization for the district to assess production fees as authorized by statutory groundwater conservation district provisions. The bill changes the fee the district may assess for water exported from the district from a reasonable fee to a fee capped at 150 percent of the maximum wholesale water rate charged by the City of Houston. The bill authorizes the district to assess other fees authorized under statutory groundwater conservation district provisions.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2017.