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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board and the |
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Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the effects of |
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the construction of a border wall on storm drainage and other |
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environmental matters in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. |
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(2) "Border wall" means a wall, fence, or other |
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barrier on the border between the United States and Mexico. |
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(3) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(b) The board and the commission jointly shall: |
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(1) conduct a study concerning the effects the |
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construction of a border wall would have on storm drainage, water |
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quality, and environmental contamination matters in this state; and |
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(2) develop recommendations for actions that may |
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prevent or mitigate any negative effects on storm drainage, water |
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quality, or environmental contamination matters resulting from the |
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construction of a border wall. |
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(c) The study must investigate: |
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(1) whether and to what extent the construction of a |
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border wall would cause or contribute to flood management or other |
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storm drainage problems in this state; |
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(2) whether and to what extent the construction of a |
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border wall would cause or contribute to negative environmental |
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contamination or other environmental effects in this state; |
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(3) whether certain designs or methods of construction |
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of a border wall would prevent or mitigate any negative effects |
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identified under Subdivisions (1) or (2) of this subsection; |
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(4) any economic effects expected to result from any |
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negative effects identified under Subdivision (1) or (2) of this |
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subsection; and |
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(5) what actions by the state would best prevent or |
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mitigate any negative effects identified under Subdivision (1) or |
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(2) of this subsection, including any potential legal actions |
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against the federal government to stop the construction or alter |
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the design of a border wall. |
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(d) Not later than March 1, 2020, the board and the |
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commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, |
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and each standing committee of the legislature having primary |
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jurisdiction over water development and environmental matters: |
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(1) a report of the findings of the study conducted |
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under this section; and |
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(2) recommendations for actions that may prevent or |
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mitigate any negative storm drainage, water quality, or |
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environmental contamination effects resulting from the |
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construction of a border wall, including any potential legal |
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actions against the federal government to stop the construction or |
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alter the design of a border wall. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |