BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4742

By: Lopez, Janie

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Studying artificial drainage systems may help ensure the safety and well-being of Texas communities living in flood-prone areas, as projects that relate to flood control infrastructure are crucial to these areas. C.S.H.B. 4742 seeks to help resolve the issues that communities like the Rio Grande Valley face by authorizing the Texas Water Development Board to study issues faced by communities with artificial drainage systems and prepare a report containing related recommendations.

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

C.S.H.B. 4742 authorizes the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB), before January 1, 2025, to study issues faced by communities with artificial drainage systems and prepare a written report that contains possible recommendations relating to addressing identified issues facing those communities. The bill defines "artificial drainage system" as a system to remove floodwater in a community that lacks topographic relief, slope, and naturally defined floodways.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4742 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes provisions authorizing the TWDB to study issues faced by communities with artificial drainage systems and prepare a written report that contains related recommendations and does not include any provisions, except for the definition of "artificial drainage system," from the introduced, which required the TWDB to establish a program that prioritizes the provision from the flood infrastructure fund of grants or no-interest loans to an applicable district or authority for the construction or improvement of an artificial drainage system and provides loan forgiveness for such a loan and provided for the adoption of scoring criteria for that prioritization.