88R6747 SCP-D
 
  By: Oliverson H.B. No. 3820
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence
  District over the North Harris County Regional Water Authority.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 8801.005, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 8801.005.  DISTRICT TERRITORY. The district includes
  the territory located within the boundaries of Harris County and
  Galveston County, as that territory may have been modified under[:
               [(1)  Section 8801.006 or its predecessor statute,
  former Section 151.003(b), Water Code; or
               [(2)]  other law.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 8801, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8801.007 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 8801.007.  APPLICABILITY TO CERTAIN TERRITORY.
  Notwithstanding any other law, this chapter does not apply to:
               (1)  the North Harris County Regional Water Authority;
  or
               (2)  property located in the territory of the North
  Harris County Regional Water Authority, as described by Subchapter
  B, Chapter 8888.
         SECTION 3.  Section 8888.001(7), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
               (7)  "Groundwater reduction plan" means a plan adopted
  or implemented to supply water, reduce reliance on groundwater,
  regulate groundwater pumping and water usage, or require and
  allocate water usage among persons [in order to comply with or
  exceed the minimum requirements imposed by the subsidence
  district], including any applicable groundwater reduction
  requirements.
         SECTION 4.  Section 8888.005(c), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The following laws do not apply to the authority:
               (1)  Chapter 8801 of this code;
               (2)  Chapter 36, Water Code;
               (3) [(2)]  Section 49.052, Water Code; and
               (4) [(3)]  Sections 49.451-49.455, Water Code.
         SECTION 5.  Section 8888.156(b), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  [The board by rule shall exempt from the fee established
  under Subsection (a) each class of wells that is not subject to a
  groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence
  district. If an exempted class of wells becomes subject to a
  groundwater reduction requirement imposed by the subsidence
  district, the authority may charge the fee established under
  Subsection (a) on the wells of that class.] The board by rule may
  exempt any [other] class of wells from the fee established under
  Subsection (a).
         SECTION 6.  Section 8888.157(b), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The groundwater reduction plan may be amended at the
  discretion of the authority [subject to the requirements and
  procedures of the subsidence district applicable to the amendment
  of groundwater reduction plans].
         SECTION 7.  Section 8888.165(a), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  In implementing this chapter, the board may cooperate
  with and request the assistance of the Texas Water Development
  Board, the commission, the United States Geological Survey, the
  Harris-Galveston Subsidence District [subsidence district], other
  local governments, and other agencies of the United States and this
  state.
         SECTION 8.  Section 8888.166(b), Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The authority may expedite the financing and
  construction of a surface water delivery system, or other projects
  of the authority, to accomplish a conversion from reliance on
  groundwater to reliance on surface water not later than [the
  earlier of:
               [(1)  the date required by the subsidence district; or
               [(2)]  the date determined by the board to be in the
  interest of the authority or one or more districts inside or outside
  the authority.
         SECTION 9.  The following provisions of the Special District
  Local Laws Code are repealed:
               (1)  Section 8888.001(12);
               (2)  Section 8888.005(b);
               (3)  Section 8888.156(c);
               (4)  Section 8888.157(c);
               (5)  Section 8888.165(b); and
               (6)  Section 8888.201.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.