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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the participation by local governments in water quality |
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control measures. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 26.0151, Water Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows: |
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(d-1) The commission shall establish and maintain an |
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electronic portal for local governments to access: |
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(1) information provided under Subsection (a); and |
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(2) any discharge monitoring report received by the |
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commission. |
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SECTION 2. Section 26.017, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 26.017. COOPERATION. The commission shall: |
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(1) encourage voluntary cooperation by the people, |
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cities, counties, industries, associations, agricultural |
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interests, and representatives of other interests in preserving the |
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greatest possible utility of water in the state; |
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(2) encourage the formation and organization of |
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cooperative groups, associations, cities, counties, industries, |
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and other water users for the purpose of providing a medium to |
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discuss and formulate plans for attainment of water quality |
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control; |
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(3) establish policies and procedures for securing |
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close cooperation among state agencies that have water quality |
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control functions; |
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(4) cooperate with the governments of the United |
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States and other states and with official or unofficial agencies |
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and organizations with respect to water quality control matters and |
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with respect to formulation of interstate water quality control |
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compacts or agreements, and when representation of state interests |
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on a basin planning agency for water quality purposes is required |
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under Section 3(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as |
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amended, or other federal legislation having a similar purpose, the |
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representation shall include an officer or employee of the |
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commission; and |
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(5) with respect to obtaining or administering the |
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NPDES program in lieu of the government of the United States, not |
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enter into any memorandum of agreement or other contractual |
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relationship with or among state agencies or with the government of |
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the United States which imposes any requirements upon the state |
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other than or more stringent than those specifically set forth in |
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Section 402(b) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as |
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amended. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall |
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establish the electronic portal required by Section 26.0151(d-1), |
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Water Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |