BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2846
	By: Larson et al. (Huffman)
	Water & Rural Affairs
	5/7/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 2846 provides for the transfer of the Allens Creek Reservoir Project (project) by the City of Houston to the Brazos River Authority. The project is a proposed off-channel reservoir on Allens Creek, a tributary of the Brazos River located near the City of Wallis in Austin County.

H.B. 2846 amends current law relating to the sale of the Allens Creek Reservoir project.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Article 1, Chapter 1291, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, by adding Section 1.07, as follows:

Sec. 1.07. (a) Requires the City of Houston, notwithstanding any other provision of this article (relating to the creation of the Allens Creek Reservoir Project), to enter into a contractual agreement with the Brazos River Authority not later than January 1, 2020, to transfer to the Brazos River Authority all of the city's ownership interests in the Allens Creek Reservoir project, including all required water right permits, along with the responsibility to construct the project in accordance with all associated statutory requirements and deadlines.

(b) Provides that construction of the reservoir is subject to the Brazos River Authority obtaining all necessary federal permits.

(c) Requires the contractual agreement described by Subsection (a), in addition to other necessary provisions, to include provisions for the transfer of an amount not to exceed $23 million from the Brazos River Authority to the City of Houston.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.