86R6855 JAM-D
 
  By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 990
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board and the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the effects of
  the construction of a border wall on storm drainage and other
  environmental matters in this state.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.
               (2)  "Border wall" means a wall, fence, or other
  barrier on the border between the United States and Mexico.
               (3)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
         (b)  The board and the commission jointly shall:
               (1)  conduct a study concerning the effects the
  construction of a border wall would have on storm drainage, water
  quality, and environmental contamination matters in this state; and
               (2)  develop recommendations for actions that may
  prevent or mitigate any negative effects on storm drainage, water
  quality, or environmental contamination matters resulting from the
  construction of a border wall.
         (c)  The study must investigate:
               (1)  whether and to what extent the construction of a
  border wall would cause or contribute to flood management or other
  storm drainage problems in this state;
               (2)  whether and to what extent the construction of a
  border wall would cause or contribute to negative environmental
  contamination or other environmental effects in this state;
               (3)  whether certain designs or methods of construction
  of a border wall would prevent or mitigate any negative effects
  identified under Subdivisions (1) or (2) of this subsection;
               (4)  any economic effects expected to result from any
  negative effects identified under Subdivision (1) or (2) of this
  subsection; and
               (5)  what actions by the state would best prevent or
  mitigate any negative effects identified under Subdivision (1) or
  (2) of this subsection, including any potential legal actions
  against the federal government to stop the construction or alter
  the design of a border wall.
         (d)  Not later than March 1, 2020, the board and the
  commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
  and each standing committee of the legislature having primary
  jurisdiction over water development and environmental matters:
               (1)  a report of the findings of the study conducted
  under this section; and
               (2)  recommendations for actions that may prevent or
  mitigate any negative storm drainage, water quality, or
  environmental contamination effects resulting from the
  construction of a border wall, including any potential legal
  actions against the federal government to stop the construction or
  alter the design of a border wall.
         (e)  This section expires January 1, 2021.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.