BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2406

By: Creighton

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Access to water is essential for the proper functioning of a hospital. Of particular importance, water is used for plumbing fixtures, landscaping, the cooling of equipment, and medical process rinses. In the event of a storm or other emergency, a lack of access to water can result in reduced hospital efficiency and patient quality of care and increased costs. S.B. 2406 seeks to address this issue by authorizing certain hospitals, such as those in Jefferson County, 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.

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

S.B. 2406 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize a hospital located in a county that has a population of more than 250,000 and that borders the Neches River 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. The bill expressly does not affect the authority of a groundwater conservation district to regulate groundwater production under law governing such a district.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.