BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 911

By: Huberty

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey highlighted multi‑jurisdictional issues and a need for better communication and cooperation in times of disaster. C.S.H.B. 911 seeks to address this issue by creating the Lake Houston Watershed Commission to provide the public with streamlined communication and cooperation in flood control planning.

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

C.S.H.B. 911 amends the Water Code to create the Lake Houston Watershed Commission to provide the public with streamlined communication and cooperation in flood control planning. The bill requires the commission to engage in flood control planning in the watershed of Lake Houston, to facilitate the sharing of flood-related information and maps between political subdivisions in the watershed of Lake Houston, and to publish information about the activities of the commission on a website maintained by the commission.

C.S.H.B. 911 provides for the composition and terms of the commission, requires the entities appointing members to the commission to do so not later than December 31, 2019, and requires the commission to hold an initial meeting in the first quarter of 2020, at which the commissioners will draw lots to determine their initial terms. The bill provides for the governance and operation of the commission.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 911 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute does not include a requirement that the required flood control planning by the commission include the planning of projects that may also serve as a water source.