SRC-TAG H.B. 2663 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2663
78R11003 MI-FBy: Puente (Lucio)
Natural Resources
5/10/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The 75th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 1, which added Section
11.1272 to the Water Code.  Section 11.1272 required each wholesale and
retail public water supplier irrigation district to develop a plan
regional water plan and to implement the plan during droughts and periods
of water shortage.  H.B. 2663 requires the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality to establish quantifiable goals for drought
contingency plans.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality in SECTION 1 (Section 11.1272, Water Code) of this
bill.   

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Water Development
Board in SECTION 1 (Section 11.1272, Water Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 11.1272, Water Code, by adding Subsections (c),
(d), and (e), as follows: 

(c)  Requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to
require, not later than May 2005, a drought contingency plan under this
section, to include specific, quantified target goals for water use
reductions to be achieved during periods of water shortages and drought.
Requires the entity preparing the plan to establish the targets. 

(d)  Requires TCEQ and the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) by joint
rule to identify quantified target goals for drought contingency plans
that wholesale and retail public water suppliers, irrigation districts,
and other entities may use as guidelines in preparing contingency plans.
Provides that the goals established under this subsection are not
enforceable requirements. 

(e)  Requires TCEQ and TWDB to jointly to develop model drought
contingency programs for different types of water suppliers that suggest
best management practices for accomplishing the highest practicable levels
of water use reductions achievable during periods of water shortages and
drought for each specific type of water supplier. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.