BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2846

By: Larson

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the Allens Creek Reservoir 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. It has been suggested that sale of the project by the City of Houston to the Brazos River Authority would be beneficial. H.B. 2846 seeks to provide for such sale. 

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. 2846 amends Chapter 1291, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, to require the City of Houston, not later than January 1, 2020, to enter into a contractual agreement with the Brazos River Authority to transfer to the authority that 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. The bill establishes that construction of the reservoir is subject to the authority obtaining all necessary federal permits. The bill requires the contractual agreement to include, in addition to other necessary provisions, provisions for the transfer of an amount not to exceed $5 million from the authority to the city and for an option, available for a period of one year from completion of the reservoir, for the city to purchase on completion of the reservoir up to 20,000 acre-feet of water from the authority at the authority's then current system rate for raw water.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.