BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3663
86R9044 SLB-D	By: Frank (Perry)
	Water & Rural Affairs
	5/11/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority (NCTMWA) was created by H.B. 494 during the 55th Session of the Texas Legislature in order to build Millers Creek Reservoir and serve treated water to the surrounding area. As part of the legislation, the NCTMWA was barred from developing or acquiring groundwater sources.

During the drought of 2011�2015 the Millers Creek Reservoir, located in southwest Baylor County, dropped to a worrisomely low level. In response, cities within the area were administered grants to drill groundwater wells as an emergency source of water in case the reservoir went dry.

Because of the prohibition on developing or acquiring groundwater, NCTMWA is prohibited from doing anything to these groundwater wells that were put in place during the time of the drought. This bill would strike that prohibition from the code to prevent any problems that might arise in the future. H.B. 3663 would allow NCTMWA the ability to maintain the groundwater wells currently in place.

H.B. 3663 amends current law relating to the powers and duties of the North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority.

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 Section 9, Chapter 86, Acts of the 55th Legislature, Regular Session, 1957, as follows:

Sec. 9. Provides that the North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority (authority) is authorized, rather than not authorized, to develop or otherwise acquire underground sources of water. Makes no further changes to this section.

SECTION 2. Provides that all acts of the North Central Texas Municipal Water Authority relating to the development or acquisition of groundwater occurring on or before the effective date of this Act and taken in response to emergency drought conditions that have not been rescinded or are the subject of pending litigation are validated in all respects.

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2019.