BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 1382
87R12997 SRA-D	By: Creighton
	Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs
	4/29/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, there is a patchwork of regulation at multiple levels regarding drilling and construction of water wells. In the recent past some hospitals have experienced water disruptions due to emergencies and natural disasters. The loss of water for hospitals can cause a multitude of issues including but not limited to hydration, sanitation, and operations.

S.B. 1382 addresses this by making it clear that a hospital can drill a well on its property to provide water in an emergency or natural disaster when the normal supply is disrupted.  

As proposed, S.B. 1382 amends current law relating to the authority of a hospital to drill a water well for the purpose of producing water for use in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 311, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section 311.005, as follows:

Sec. 311.005. WATER WELLS FOR USE IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY OR NATURAL DISASTER. (a) Authorizes a hospital to drill a water well on property owned by the hospital for the purpose of producing water to supplement the hospital's water supply in the event that an emergency or natural disaster prevents the hospital from receiving water from the hospital's usual source.

(b) Provides that this section does not affect the authority of a groundwater conservation district to regulate groundwater production under Chapter 36 (Groundwater Conservation Districts), Water Code, or other law governing a groundwater conservation district.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.