88R13157 ANG-D
 
  By: Kitzman H.B. No. 5016
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment and administration of the Water
  Technical Assistance Consortium by the Texas Water Development
  Board.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 2, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 9 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 9. WATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSORTIUM
         Sec. 9.0101.  WATER TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CONSORTIUM. (a)
  In this section, "consortium" means the Water Technical Assistance
  Consortium.
         (b)  The board shall establish and administer the Water
  Technical Assistance Consortium. The consortium is subject to
  review under Chapter 325, Government Code, in the same manner and at
  the same time as the board under Section 6.013.
         (c)  The consortium is composed of representatives from:
               (1)  the board;
               (2)  the commission;
               (3)  the United States Department of Agriculture;
               (4)  the Texas Rural Water Association; 
               (5)  counties, including at least one representative
  from a county with a population of 100,000 or less; 
               (6)  providers of technical assistance; and 
               (7)  corporate and philanthropic interests.
         (d)  The consortium shall meet at least once a year to:
               (1)  assess ongoing efforts to develop and expand the
  provision of technical assistance regarding water infrastructure
  and water supply in the state; and 
               (2)  make recommendations to the board to facilitate
  the development and expansion of the state's water technical
  assistance capacity with an emphasis on the provision of water
  technical assistance regarding water infrastructure and water
  supply to small, rural, or disadvantaged communities. 
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.