86R11177 SLB-D
 
  By: Zwiener H.B. No. 2957
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a requirement that certain recipients of financial
  assistance from the Texas Water Development Board adopt certain
  restrictions on water use by their customers.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 15, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 15.009 to read as follows:
         Sec. 15.009.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; WATERING RESTRICTIONS.  
  (a)  This section applies only to financial assistance provided
  under this chapter:
               (1)  for a municipal water supply project;
               (2)  in an amount that exceeds $500,000; and
               (3)  to an entity that:
                     (A)  is a:
                           (i)  retail public utility as defined by
  Section 13.002; and
                           (ii)  public entity; and
                     (B)  is not a:
                           (i)  political subdivision that is primarily
  a wholesale water provider; or
                           (ii)  nonprofit water supply corporation
  created and operating under Chapter 67.
         (b)  The board may waive the requirements of this section for
  financial assistance sought to meet an emergency need.
         (c)  Financial assistance provided under this chapter shall
  include conditions that require the recipient to have a water
  conservation program in place that includes mandatory time-of-day
  limitations on outdoor watering by its customers.
         (d)  The board shall:
               (1)  adopt rules to implement this section; and
               (2)  provide guidance to recipients of financial
  assistance provided under this chapter in developing and
  implementing programs that meet the requirements of this section
  and rules adopted to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 16.025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 16.025.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; WATERING RESTRICTIONS.  
  (a)  This section applies only to financial assistance provided
  under this chapter:
               (1)  for a municipal water supply project;
               (2)  in an amount that exceeds $500,000; and
               (3)  to an entity that:
                     (A)  is a:
                           (i)  retail public utility as defined by
  Section 13.002; and
                           (ii)  public entity; and
                     (B)  is not a:
                           (i)  political subdivision that is primarily
  a wholesale water provider; or
                           (ii)  nonprofit water supply corporation
  created and operating under Chapter 67.
         (b)  The board may waive the requirements of this section for
  financial assistance sought to meet an emergency need.
         (c)  Financial assistance provided under this chapter shall
  include conditions that require the recipient to have a water
  conservation program in place that includes mandatory time-of-day
  limitations on outdoor watering by its customers.
         (d)  The board shall:
               (1)  adopt rules to implement this section; and
               (2)  provide guidance to recipients of financial
  assistance provided under this chapter in developing and
  implementing programs that meet the requirements of this section
  and rules adopted to implement this section.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 17, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 17.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 17.004.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE; WATERING RESTRICTIONS.  
  (a)  This section applies only to financial assistance provided
  under this chapter:
               (1)  for a municipal water supply project;
               (2)  in an amount that exceeds $500,000; and
               (3)  to an entity that:
                     (A)  is a:
                           (i)  retail public utility as defined by
  Section 13.002; and
                           (ii)  public entity; and
                     (B)  is not a:
                           (i)  political subdivision that is primarily
  a wholesale water provider; or
                           (ii)  nonprofit water supply corporation
  created and operating under Chapter 67.
         (b)  The board may waive the requirements of this section for
  financial assistance sought to meet an emergency need.
         (c)  Financial assistance provided under this chapter shall
  include conditions that require the recipient to have a water
  conservation program in place that includes mandatory time-of-day
  limitations on outdoor watering by its customers.
         (d)  The board shall:
               (1)  adopt rules to implement this section; and
               (2)  provide guidance to recipients of financial
  assistance provided under this chapter in developing and
  implementing programs that meet the requirements of this section
  and rules adopted to implement this section.
         SECTION 4.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective
  date of this Act, the Texas Water Development Board shall adopt
  rules under Sections 15.009, 16.025, and 17.004, Water Code, as
  added by this Act.
         (b)  Sections 15.009, 16.025, and 17.004, Water Code, as
  added by this Act, apply only to an application for financial
  assistance submitted to the Texas Water Development Board on or
  after the effective date of this Act. An application submitted
  before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
  effect immediately before the effective date of this Act, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.