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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the procedure by which a regional water planning group |
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is required to provide notice of certain public meetings or |
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hearings. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.053(h)(3), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(3) After the regional water plan is initially |
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prepared, the regional water planning group shall, after notice, |
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hold at least one public hearing at some central location readily |
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accessible to the public within the regional water planning area. |
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The group shall make copies of the plan available for public |
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inspection at least one month before the hearing on the group's |
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Internet website [by providing a copy of the plan in the county |
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courthouse and at least one public library of each county having |
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land in the region]. Notice for the hearing shall include the |
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address of the website[a listing of these] and any other location |
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where the plan is available for review. The group shall consider and |
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accommodate residents of the regional water planning area who may |
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need assistance accessing the plan because of a lack of access to |
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Internet services. |
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SECTION 2. Section 16.053(h)(8), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(8) Notice required by Subdivision (1), (3), or (6) of |
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this subsection may be provided by additional electronic means, |
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including direct e-mail, and must be[: |
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(A) posted on the regional water planning group's |
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website [published once in a newspaper of general circulation in |
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each county located in whole or in part in the regional water |
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planning area before the 30th day preceding the date of the public |
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meeting or hearing]; [and] |
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(B) mailed to: |
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(i) each mayor of a municipality with a |
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population of 1,000 or more that is located in whole or in part in |
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the regional water planning area; |
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(ii) each county judge of a county located |
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in whole or in part in the regional water planning area; |
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(iii) each special or general law district |
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or river authority with responsibility to manage or supply water in |
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the regional water planning area; |
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(iv) each retail public utility that: |
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(a) serves any part of the regional |
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water planning area; or |
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(b) receives water from the regional |
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water planning area; and |
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(v) each holder of record of a permit, |
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certified filing, or certificate of adjudication for the use of |
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surface water the diversion of which occurs in the regional water |
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planning area; and[.] |
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(C) the regional water planning group shall |
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consider and accommodate residents of the regional water planning |
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area who may need assistance accessing notice published by |
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electronic means because of a lack of access to Internet services, |
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particularly when there is a heightened interest in or response to |
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public notice or comment. |
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SECTION 3. Section 16.053(h)(9), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(9) Notice provided [published] or mailed under |
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Subdivision (8) of this subsection must contain: |
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(A) the date, time, and location of the public |
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meeting or hearing; |
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(B) a summary of the proposed action to be taken; |
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(C) the name, telephone number, and address of |
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the person to whom questions or requests for additional information |
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may be submitted; and |
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(D) information on how the public may submit |
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comments. |
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SECTION 4. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to a notice required to be given on or after the effective date of |
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this Act. A notice required to be given before the effective date of |
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this Act is governed by the law in effect at the time the notice is |
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given, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |