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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 8843.056(c), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(c) At the first election after the single-member districts |
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are revised, a new director shall be elected from each district. The |
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directors shall draw lots to determine which two directors serve |
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two-year [one-year] terms and which three directors serve four-year |
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[two-year] terms. |
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SECTION 2. Section 8843.104, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8843.104. EXEMPT WELLS. (a) In this section, |
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"existing well" means a well in the district that was completed on |
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or before September 1, 2001. |
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(a-1) The district may not require a permit to operate an |
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existing well used for [Groundwater withdrawals from the following |
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wells may not be regulated, permitted, or metered by the district]: |
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(1) [a well used for] domestic use by a single-family |
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[single private] residential household that is [and] incapable of |
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producing more than 25,000 gallons of groundwater per day; or [and] |
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(2) [a well used for] agricultural use [conventional |
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farming and ranching activities, including such intensive |
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operations as aquaculture, livestock feedlots, or poultry |
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operations]. |
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(b) The district may not require a meter on [charge or |
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collect a well construction fee for] a well described by Subsection |
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(a-1)(1) [(a)(2)]. |
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(b-1) A well owner must obtain a permit and pay any required |
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fees, including a well construction fee, before using any |
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groundwater withdrawn from a well in the district for purposes |
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other than those exempted by this chapter or Chapter 36, Water Code |
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[section]. |
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(c) The owner of a [A] well used for commercial agricultural |
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irrigation use shall: |
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(1) register the well with the district; |
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(2) install a meter that meets district standards for |
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accuracy; and |
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(3) annually report the total amount of groundwater |
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production from the well on a form approved [dewatering and |
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monitoring in the production of coal or lignite is exempt from |
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permit requirements, regulations, and fees imposed] by the |
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district. |
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(d) The district may not enter property to inspect a [an |
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exempt] well described by Subsection (a-1)(1) without the property |
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owner's permission. |
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SECTION 3. Section 8843.152, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection |
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(c) to read as follows: |
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(b) The district may assess [levy and collect] a water |
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utility service connection fee only in accordance with the |
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following schedule and Subsection (c) based on the size of the meter |
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to be installed: |
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| Meter Size |
Multiplier |
Maximum Fee |
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(c) The fee for a meter size smaller than five-eighths of an |
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inch may not exceed $1,000 [not to exceed $1,000 for each new water |
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service connection made after September 1, 2013]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 8843.153, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8843.153. TAXES [AND OTHER FEES] PROHIBITED. |
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Notwithstanding Section 8843.101 or Subchapter G, Chapter 36, Water |
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Code, the district may not[: |
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[(1)] impose a tax[; or |
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[(2) assess or collect any fees except as authorized |
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by Section 8843.151 or 8843.152]. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter D, Chapter 8843, Special District |
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Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8843.155 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8843.155. FEES. (a) The district may assess |
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production fees as authorized by Section 36.205, Water Code. The |
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district may not assess production fees for water used for |
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agricultural use. |
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(b) The district may not charge for an annual period a |
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production fee greater than 25 cents per 1,000 gallons authorized |
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to be withdrawn under a permit issued by the district. |
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SECTION 6. The following sections of the Special District |
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Local Laws Code are repealed: |
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(1) Section 8843.055; |
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(2) Section 8843.105; and |
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(3) Section 8843.106. |
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SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |