By: Springer S.B. No. 471
 
  (Harris of Anderson)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the investigation by the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality of certain complaints.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 5.176, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  The commission is not required to investigate a
  complaint:
               (1)  that may be addressed during other commission
  activities; or
               (2)  that was filed by an individual when there is not a
  reasonable probability that the commission can substantiate the
  complaint and:
                     (A)  the complaint is repetitious or redundant of
  other complaints concerning the same site investigated in the
  preceding 12 months that were not substantiated by the commission;
  or
                     (B)  the complainant has filed in the preceding
  seven years at least five complaints that were not substantiated by
  the commission.
         SECTION 2.  Section 5.177(c), Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (c)  The commission is not required to provide the
  information described in Subsection (a) or (b) to a complainant
  who:
               (1)  files an anonymous complaint;
               (2)  [or] provides inaccurate contact information; or
               (3)  files a complaint described by Section 5.176(c).
         SECTION 3.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
  a complaint filed on or after the effective date of this Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.