| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the powers and duties of the Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Department regarding the Texas Water Trust. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife |
|
|
Code, is amended by adding Section 12.028 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 12.028. POWERS AND DUTIES REGARDING TEXAS WATER TRUST. |
|
|
(a) In this section, "Texas Water Trust" means the trust |
|
|
established under Section 15.7031, Water Code. |
|
|
(b) Consistent with Section 11.0235(b), Water Code, and the |
|
|
department's duties and responsibilities, the department shall |
|
|
encourage and facilitate the dedication of water rights in the |
|
|
Texas Water Trust through lease, donation, purchase, or other means |
|
|
of voluntary transfer for environmental needs, including for the |
|
|
purpose of maintaining or improving: |
|
|
(1) instream flows; |
|
|
(2) water quality; |
|
|
(3) fish and wildlife habitat; and |
|
|
(4) bay and estuary inflows. |
|
|
(c) The department may manage rights in the Texas Water |
|
|
Trust in a manner that: |
|
|
(1) is consistent with the dedication of the rights; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(2) maximizes environmental benefits. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 15.7031, Water Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: |
|
|
(e) The Parks and Wildlife Department may manage rights in |
|
|
the trust in a manner that: |
|
|
(1) is consistent with the dedication of the rights; |
|
|
and |
|
|
(2) maximizes environmental benefits. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |