BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4570

By: Larson

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that, traditionally, surface water and groundwater have been treated independently when managing these resources in Texas, despite often being hydrologically connected. As the demand for water and the need for new water supplies increase in Texas, it has been suggested that understanding the hydrologic connection between surface water and groundwater becomes integral to developing policies and strategies to effectively use and manage these two resources. H.B. 4570 seeks to establish an advisory board to study surface water and groundwater interaction.

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. 4570 establishes the nine-member Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction Advisory Board and sets out provisions relating to the board's member composition and the board's chair. The bill requires the board, in consultation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, groundwater conservation districts, and river authorities, to study:

· the extent to which surface water and groundwater interact in Texas;

· challenges arising in Texas from the interaction of surface water and groundwater; and

· approaches to mitigating challenges arising in Texas from the interaction of surface water and groundwater.

H.B. 4570 requires the board to deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature, not later than December 1, 2020, a report on the board's determinations based on the study. The bill requires the board to deliver to any such person related information on request. The bill's provisions expire and the board is abolished January 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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