1-1 By: Brown S.B. No. 272
1-2 (In the Senate - Filed January 26, 1999; January 28, 1999,
1-3 read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
1-4 March 4, 1999, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
1-5 Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; March 4, 1999,
1-6 sent to printer.)
1-7 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 272 By: Brown
1-8 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-9 AN ACT
1-10 relating to regional water planning groups.
1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12 SECTION 1. Section 16.053, Water Code, is amended by
1-13 amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (l) through (o) to
1-14 read as follows:
1-15 (c) No later than 60 days after the designation of the
1-16 regions under Subsection (b) [of this section], the board shall
1-17 designate representatives within each regional water planning area
1-18 to serve as the initial coordinating body for planning. The
1-19 initial coordinating body may [shall] then designate additional
1-20 representatives to serve on the regional water planning group. The
1-21 initial coordinating body shall designate additional
1-22 representatives if necessary to ensure[, ensuring] adequate
1-23 representation from the interests comprising that region, including
1-24 [but not limited to] the public, counties, municipalities,
1-25 industries, agricultural interests, environmental interests, small
1-26 businesses, electric generating utilities, river authorities, water
1-27 districts, and water utilities. The regional water planning group
1-28 shall maintain adequate representation from those interests.
1-29 (l) A political subdivision may contract with a regional
1-30 water planning group to assist the regional water planning group in
1-31 developing or revising a regional water plan.
1-32 (m) A cause of action does not accrue against a regional
1-33 water planning group, a representative who serves on the regional
1-34 water planning group, or an employee of a political subdivision
1-35 that contracts with the regional water planning group under
1-36 Subsection (l) for an act or omission in the course and scope of
1-37 the person's work relating to the regional water planning group.
1-38 (n) A regional water planning group, a representative who
1-39 serves on the regional water planning group, or an employee of a
1-40 political subdivision that contracts with the regional water
1-41 planning group under Subsection (l) is not liable for damages that
1-42 may arise from an act or omission in the course and scope of the
1-43 person's work relating to the regional water planning group.
1-44 (o) The attorney general, on request, shall represent a
1-45 regional water planning group, a representative who serves on the
1-46 regional water planning group, or an employee of a political
1-47 subdivision that contracts with the regional water planning group
1-48 under Subsection (l) in a suit arising from an act or omission
1-49 relating to the regional water planning group.
1-50 SECTION 2. The changes in law made by Subsections (m)
1-51 through (o), Section 16.053, Water Code, as added by this Act,
1-52 apply only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the
1-53 effective date of this Act. A cause of action that accrued before
1-54 the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on
1-55 the date the cause of action accrued, and that law is continued in
1-56 effect for that purpose.
1-57 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
1-58 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-59 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-60 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-61 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-62 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-63 passage, and it is so enacted.
1-64 * * * * *