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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence |
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District over the North Harris County Regional Water Authority. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 8801.005, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8801.005. DISTRICT TERRITORY. The district includes |
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the territory located within the boundaries of Harris County and |
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Galveston County, as that territory may have been modified under[: |
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[(1) Section 8801.006 or its predecessor statute, |
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former Section 151.003(b), Water Code; or |
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[(2)] other law. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 8801, Special District |
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Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8801.007 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 8801.007. APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TERRITORY. |
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Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) the North Harris County Regional Water Authority; |
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or |
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(2) property located in the territory of the North |
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Harris County Regional Water Authority, as described by Subchapter |
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B, Chapter 8888. |
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SECTION 3. Section 8888.001(7), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(7) "Groundwater reduction plan" means a plan adopted |
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or implemented to supply water, reduce reliance on groundwater, |
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regulate groundwater pumping and water usage, or require and |
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allocate water usage among persons [in order to comply with or |
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exceed the minimum requirements imposed by the subsidence |
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district], including any applicable groundwater reduction |
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requirements. |
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SECTION 4. Section 8888.005(c), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(c) The following laws do not apply to the authority: |
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(1) Chapter 8801 of this code; |
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(2) Chapter 36, Water Code; |
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(3) [(2)] Section 49.052, Water Code; and |
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(4) [(3)] Sections 49.451-49.455, Water Code. |
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SECTION 5. Section 8888.156(b), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) [The board by rule shall exempt from the fee established |
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under Subsection (a) each class of wells that is not subject to a |
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groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence |
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district. If an exempted class of wells becomes subject to a |
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groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence |
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district, the authority may charge the fee established under |
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Subsection (a) on the wells of that class.] The board by rule may |
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exempt any [other] class of wells from the fee established under |
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Subsection (a). |
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SECTION 6. Section 8888.157(b), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The groundwater reduction plan may be amended at the |
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discretion of the authority [subject to the requirements and |
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procedures of the subsidence district applicable to the amendment |
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of groundwater reduction plans]. |
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SECTION 7. Section 8888.165(a), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In implementing this chapter, the board may cooperate |
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with and request the assistance of the Texas Water Development |
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Board, the commission, the United States Geological Survey, the |
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Harris-Galveston Subsidence District [subsidence district], other |
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local governments, and other agencies of the United States and this |
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state. |
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SECTION 8. Section 8888.166(b), Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The authority may expedite the financing and |
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construction of a surface water delivery system, or other projects |
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of the authority, to accomplish a conversion from reliance on |
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groundwater to reliance on surface water not later than [the |
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earlier of: |
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[(1) the date required by the subsidence district; or |
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[(2)] the date determined by the board to be in the |
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interest of the authority or one or more districts inside or outside |
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the authority. |
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SECTION 9. The following provisions of the Special District |
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Local Laws Code are repealed: |
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(1) Section 8888.001(12); |
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(2) Section 8888.005(b); |
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(3) Section 8888.156(c); |
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(4) Section 8888.157(c); |
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(5) Section 8888.165(b); and |
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(6) Section 8888.201. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |