By: Taylor of Galveston S.B. No. 1489
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 1.02, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.02.  FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY.  It is
  hereby found and declared that the quality of waters in Chambers,
  Galveston, and Harris Counties is materially affected by the
  disposal of wastes throughout those counties; that regional
  approaches to studying water pollution in these counties, to
  planning corrective and preventive measures, to providing
  coordinated facilities for waste disposal, and to regulating waste
  disposal would be far more effective than efforts on a county-wide,
  city-wide, or smaller scale; that solid wastes, as well as other
  kinds of waste, may impair water quality by seepage, drainage, and
  otherwise; that creation of the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal]
  Authority would advance the established policy of the state to
  maintain the quality of the waters in the state consistent with the
  public health and public enjoyment thereof, the propagation and
  protection of terrestrial and aquatic life, the operation of
  existing industries, and the economic development of the state; and
  that impending shortage of water in the district for beneficial
  uses requires that all reasonable measures be taken to prevent and
  abate water pollution, and to reclaim polluted water for beneficial
  uses.
         SECTION 2.  Section 1.03(a)(1), Chapter 409, Acts of the
  61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended to read as
  follows:
               (1)  "Authority" means the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal]
  Authority created by this Act.
         SECTION 3.  Section 2.01, Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1969, is amended to read as follows:
         Section 2.01.  CREATION OF AUTHORITY.  There is hereby
  created, pursuant to Article XVI, Section 59, of the Texas
  Constitution, a conservation and reclamation district to be known
  as the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority, which shall be a
  governmental agency and body politic and corporate of the State of
  Texas.  A confirmation election shall not be necessary.
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 409, Acts of the 61st Legislature,
  Regular Session, 1969, is amended by adding Section 2.015 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 2.015.  NAME CHANGE.  A reference in law to the Gulf
  Coast Waste Disposal Authority means the Gulf Coast Authority.
         SECTION 5.  Section 8104.006, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 8104.006.  RELATIONSHIP TO GULF COAST [WASTE DISPOSAL]
  AUTHORITY.  The rights, powers, privileges, and functions granted
  to the authority under this chapter are subject to the powers
  granted to the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority in Chapter
  409, Acts of the 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969 (Article
  7621d-2, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), to provide disposal
  systems.
         SECTION 6.  Section 8104.205, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 8104.205.  CONSENT REQUIRED FOR WASTE TREATMENT AND
  DISPOSAL FACILITIES.  Before acquiring or constructing a waste
  treatment or disposal facility, the authority must obtain the
  consent of the:
               (1)  Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority; or
               (2)  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, if the
  consent of the Gulf Coast [Waste Disposal] Authority is
  unreasonably withheld or delayed.
         SECTION 7.  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, 2017.