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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 water quality 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 conduct a |
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study concerning the effects the construction of a border wall |
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would have on water quality in this state. |
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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 drainage problems for |
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watersheds 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 contamination of |
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groundwater or surface water in this state or other negative |
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effects on water quality in this state; and |
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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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(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 a |
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report of the findings of the study conducted under this section. |
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(e) This section expires January 1, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |