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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 1905

By: Harris

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Relief is needed for regional water planning groups and financial assistance applicants from duties that are underfunded or no longer informative, as recommended by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB). The TWDB has received unsolicited requests from regional water planning group members for adjustments relating to inefficiencies regarding the following:

·         an infrastructure financing report, which was a useful tool to assess and corroborate financing needs prior to the development of the SWIFT program, the demand on which is currently a better indicator of the need for state assistance; and

·         the prioritization of projects by regional water planning groups, which involves significant effort that does not contribute proportionally to the overall final outcomes because of the prioritization of applications for funding through the SWIFT program.

 

H.B. 1905 seeks to address these issues by relieving regional water planning groups of certain duties.

 

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. 1905 repeals Water Code provisions relating to the following:

·         the duty of a regional water planning group to prioritize projects in its respective regional water plan for purposes of state water implementation fund for Texas bond enhancement agreements; and

·         the duty of regional planning groups to conduct certain water infrastructure financing surveys.

 

H.B. 1905 amends the Water Code to remove the prohibition against the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) directing the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company to enter into a bond enhancement agreement with respect to TWDB-issued bonds whose proceeds may be used to provide financial assistance to an applicant who has failed to satisfactorily complete a request by the TWDB executive administrator or a regional water planning group for information relevant to the project for which the financial assistance is sought.

 

H.B. 1905 repeals Sections 15.436 and 16.053(q), Water Code.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2021.