H.B. No. 3
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the management of the water resources of the state,
  including the protection of instream flows and freshwater inflows,
  and to the management of groundwater in the area regulated by the
  Edwards Aquifer Authority and to the operations and oversight of
  the authority.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         ARTICLE 1. MANAGEMENT OF STATE WATER
         SECTION 1.01.  The heading to Section 5.506, Water Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 5.506.  EMERGENCY SUSPENSION OF PERMIT CONDITION
  RELATING TO, AND EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO MAKE AVAILABLE WATER SET
  ASIDE FOR, BENEFICIAL INFLOWS TO AFFECTED BAYS AND ESTUARIES AND
  INSTREAM USES.
         SECTION 1.02.  Section 5.506, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b) and (c) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  State water that is set aside by the commission to
  meet the needs for freshwater inflows to affected bays and
  estuaries and instream uses under Section 11.1471(a)(2) may be made
  available temporarily for other essential beneficial uses if the
  commission finds that an emergency exists that cannot practically
  be resolved in another way.
         (b)  The commission must give written notice of the proposed
  action [suspension] to the Parks and Wildlife Department before the
  commission suspends a permit condition under Subsection (a) or
  makes water available temporarily under Subsection (a-1) [this
  section]. The commission shall give the Parks and Wildlife
  Department an opportunity to submit comments on the proposed action
  [suspension] for a period of 72 hours from receipt of the notice and
  must consider those comments before issuing an order implementing
  the proposed action [imposing the suspension].
         (c)  The commission may suspend a permit condition under
  Subsection (a) or make water available temporarily under Subsection
  (a-1) [this section] without notice except as required by
  Subsection (b).
         SECTION 1.03.  Section 5.701(j), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (j)  The fee for other uses of water not specifically named
  in this section is $1 per acre-foot, except that no political
  subdivision may be required to pay fees to use water for recharge of
  underground freshwater-bearing sands and aquifers or for abatement
  of natural pollution. A fee is not required for a water right that
  is [This fee is waived for applications for instream-use water
  rights] deposited into the Texas Water Trust.
         SECTION 1.04.  Section 11.002, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivisions (15), (16), (17), (18), and (19) to read as
  follows:
               (15)  "Environmental flow analysis" means the
  application of a scientifically derived process for predicting the
  response of an ecosystem to changes in instream flows or freshwater
  inflows.
               (16)  "Environmental flow regime" means a schedule of
  flow quantities that reflects seasonal and yearly fluctuations that
  typically would vary geographically, by specific location in a
  watershed, and that are shown to be adequate to support a sound
  ecological environment and to maintain the productivity, extent,
  and persistence of key aquatic habitats in and along the affected
  water bodies.
               (17)  "Environmental flow standards" means those
  requirements adopted by the commission under Section 11.1471.
               (18)  "Advisory group" means the environmental flows
  advisory group.
               (19)  "Science advisory committee" means the Texas
  environmental flows science advisory committee.
         SECTION 1.05.  Section 11.023(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  To the extent that state water has not been set aside by
  the commission under Section 11.1471(a)(2) to meet downstream
  instream flow needs or freshwater inflow needs, state [State] water
  may be appropriated, stored, or diverted for:
               (1)  domestic and municipal uses, including water for
  sustaining human life and the life of domestic animals;
               (2)  agricultural uses and industrial uses, meaning
  processes designed to convert materials of a lower order of value
  into forms having greater usability and commercial value, including
  the development of power by means other than hydroelectric;
               (3)  mining and recovery of minerals;
               (4)  hydroelectric power;
               (5)  navigation;
               (6)  recreation and pleasure;
               (7)  public parks; and
               (8)  game preserves.
         SECTION 1.06.  Section 11.0235, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsections (d-1)
  through (d-6) and (f) to read as follows:
         (c)  The legislature has expressly required the commission
  while balancing all other public interests to consider and, to the
  extent practicable, provide for the freshwater inflows and instream
  flows necessary to maintain the viability of the state's streams,
  rivers, and bay and estuary systems in the commission's regular
  granting of permits for the use of state waters. As an essential
  part of the state's environmental flows policy, all permit
  conditions relating to freshwater inflows to affected bays and
  estuaries and instream flow needs must be subject to temporary
  suspension if necessary for water to be applied to essential
  beneficial uses during emergencies.
         (d-1)  The legislature has determined that existing water
  rights that are converted to water rights for environmental
  purposes should be enforced in a manner consistent with the
  enforcement of water rights for other purposes as provided by the
  laws of this state governing the appropriation of state water.
         (d-2)  The legislature finds that to provide certainty in
  water management and development and to provide adequate protection
  of the state's streams, rivers, and bays and estuaries, the state
  must have a process with specific timelines for prompt action to
  address environmental flow issues in the state's major basin and
  bay systems, especially those systems in which unappropriated water
  is still available.
         (d-3)  The legislature finds that:
               (1)  in those basins in which water is available for
  appropriation, the commission should establish an environmental
  set-aside below which water should not be available for
  appropriation; and
               (2)  in those basins in which the unappropriated water
  that will be set aside for instream flow and freshwater inflow
  protection is not sufficient to fully satisfy the environmental
  flow standards established by the commission, a variety of market
  approaches, both public and private, for filling the gap must be
  explored and pursued.
         (d-4)  The legislature finds that while the state has
  pioneered tools to address freshwater inflow needs for bays and
  estuaries, there are limitations to those tools in light of both
  scientific and public policy evolution. To fully address bay and
  estuary environmental flow issues, the foundation of work
  accomplished by the state should be improved. While the state's
  instream flow studies program appears to encompass a comprehensive
  and scientific approach for establishing a process to assess
  instream flow needs for rivers and streams across the state, more
  extensive review and examination of the details of the program,
  which may not be fully developed until the program is under way, are
  needed to ensure an effective tool for evaluating riverine
  environmental flow conditions.
         (d-5)  The legislature finds that the management of water to
  meet instream flow and freshwater inflow needs should be evaluated
  on a regular basis and adapted to reflect both improvements in
  science related to environmental flows and future changes in
  projected human needs for water. In addition, the development of
  management strategies for addressing environmental flow needs
  should be an ongoing, adaptive process that considers and addresses
  local issues.
         (d-6)  The legislature finds that recommendations for state
  action to protect instream flows and freshwater inflows should be
  developed through a consensus-based, regional approach involving
  balanced representation of stakeholders and that such a process
  should be encouraged throughout the state.
         (e)  The fact that greater pressures and demands are being
  placed on the water resources of the state makes it of paramount
  importance to ensure [reexamine the process for ensuring] that
  these important priorities are effectively addressed by detailing
  how environmental flow standards are to be developed using the
  environmental studies that have been and are to be performed by the
  state and others and specifying in clear delegations of authority
  how those environmental flow standards will be integrated into the
  regional water planning and water permitting process [to the
  commission].
         (f)  The legislature recognizes that effective
  implementation of the approach provided by this chapter for
  protecting instream flows and freshwater inflows will require more
  effective water rights administration and enforcement systems than
  are currently available in most areas of the state.
         SECTION 1.07.  Subchapter B, Chapter 11, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 11.0236, 11.02361, 11.02362, and 11.0237
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.0236.  ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS ADVISORY GROUP.  (a)  In
  recognition of the importance that the ecological soundness of our
  riverine, bay, and estuary systems and riparian lands has on the
  economy, health, and well-being of the state there is created the
  environmental flows advisory group.
         (b)  The advisory group is composed of nine members as
  follows:
               (1)  three members appointed by the governor;
               (2)  three members of the senate appointed by the
  lieutenant governor; and
               (3)  three members of the house of representatives
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
         (c)  Of the members appointed under Subsection (b)(1):
               (1)  one member must be a member of the commission;
               (2)  one member must be a member of the board; and
               (3)  one member must be a member of the Parks and
  Wildlife Commission.
         (d)  Each member of the advisory group serves at the will of
  the person who appointed the member.
         (e)  The appointed senator with the most seniority and the
  appointed house member with the most seniority serve together as
  co-presiding officers of the advisory group.
         (f)  A member of the advisory group is not entitled to
  receive compensation for service on the advisory group but is
  entitled to reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the
  member while conducting the business of the advisory group, as
  provided by the General Appropriations Act.
         (g)  The advisory group may accept gifts and grants from any
  source to be used to carry out a function of the advisory group.
         (h)  The commission shall provide staff support for the
  advisory group.
         (i)  The advisory group shall conduct public hearings and
  study public policy implications for balancing the demands on the
  water resources of the state resulting from a growing population
  with the requirements of the riverine, bay, and estuary systems
  including granting permits for instream flows dedicated to
  environmental needs or bay and estuary inflows, use of the Texas
  Water Trust, and any other issues that the advisory group
  determines have importance and relevance to the protection of
  environmental flows. In evaluating the options for providing
  adequate environmental flows, the advisory group shall take notice
  of the strong public policy imperative that exists in this state
  recognizing that environmental flows are important to the
  biological health of our public and private lands, streams and
  rivers, and bay and estuary systems and are high priorities in the
  water management process. The advisory group shall specifically
  address:
               (1)  ways that the ecological soundness of those
  systems will be ensured in the water rights administration and
  enforcement and water allocation processes; and
               (2)  appropriate methods to encourage persons
  voluntarily to convert reasonable amounts of existing water rights
  to use for environmental flow protection temporarily or
  permanently.
         (j)  The advisory group may adopt rules, procedures, and
  policies as needed to administer this section, to implement its
  responsibilities, and to exercise its authority under Sections
  11.02361 and 11.02362.
         (k)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  size, composition, or duration of the advisory group.
         (l)  Not later than December 1, 2008, and every two years
  thereafter, the advisory group shall issue and promptly deliver to
  the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives copies of a report summarizing:
               (1)  any hearings conducted by the advisory group;
               (2)  any studies conducted by the advisory group;
               (3)  any legislation proposed by the advisory group;
               (4)  progress made in implementing Sections 11.02361
  and 11.02362; and
               (5)  any other findings and recommendations of the
  advisory group.
         (m)  The advisory group is abolished on the date that the
  commission has adopted environmental flow standards under Section
  11.1471 for all of the river basin and bay systems in this state.
         Sec. 11.02361.  TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS SCIENCE ADVISORY
  COMMITTEE.  (a)  The Texas environmental flows science advisory
  committee consists of at least five but not more than nine members
  appointed by the advisory group.
         (b)  The advisory group shall appoint to the science advisory
  committee persons who will provide an objective perspective and
  diverse technical expertise, including expertise in hydrology,
  hydraulics, water resources, aquatic and terrestrial biology,
  geomorphology, geology, water quality, computer modeling, and
  other technical areas pertinent to the evaluation of environmental
  flows.
         (c)  Members of the science advisory committee serve
  five-year terms expiring March 1. A vacancy on the science advisory
  committee is filled by appointment by the co-presiding officers of
  the advisory group for the unexpired term.
         (d)  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
  size, composition, or duration of the science advisory committee.
         (e)  The science advisory committee shall:
               (1)  serve as an objective scientific body to advise
  and make recommendations to the advisory group on issues relating
  to the science of environmental flow protection; and
               (2)  develop recommendations to help provide overall
  direction, coordination, and consistency relating to:
                     (A)  environmental flow methodologies for bay and
  estuary studies and instream flow studies;
                     (B)  environmental flow programs at the
  commission, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and the board; and
                     (C)  the work of the basin and bay expert science
  teams described in Section 11.02362.
         (f)  To assist the advisory group to assess the extent to
  which the recommendations of the science advisory committee are
  considered and implemented, the commission, the Parks and Wildlife
  Department, and the board shall provide written reports to the
  advisory group, at intervals determined by the advisory group, that
  describe:
               (1)  the actions taken by each agency in response to
  each recommendation; and
               (2)  for each recommendation not implemented, the
  reason it was not implemented.
         (g)  The science advisory committee is abolished on the date
  the advisory group is abolished under Section 11.0236(m).
         Sec. 11.02362.  DEVELOPMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW REGIME
  RECOMMENDATIONS.  (a)  For the purposes of this section, the
  advisory group, not later than November 1, 2007, shall define the
  geographical extent of each river basin and bay system in this state
  for the sole purpose of developing environmental flow regime
  recommendations under this section and adoption of environmental
  flow standards under Section 11.1471.
         (b)  The advisory group shall give priority in descending
  order to the following river basin and bay systems of the state for
  the purpose of developing environmental flow regime
  recommendations and adopting environmental flow standards:
               (1)  the river basin and bay system consisting of the
  Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers and Galveston Bay and the river basin
  and bay system consisting of the Sabine and Neches Rivers and Sabine
  Lake Bay;
               (2)  the river basin and bay system consisting of the
  Colorado and Lavaca Rivers and Matagorda and Lavaca Bays and the
  river basin and bay system consisting of the Guadalupe, San
  Antonio, Mission, and Aransas Rivers and Mission, Copano, Aransas,
  and San Antonio Bays; and
               (3)  the river basin and bay system consisting of the
  Nueces River and Corpus Christi and Baffin Bays, the river basin and
  bay system consisting of the Rio Grande, the Rio Grande estuary, and
  the Lower Laguna Madre, and the Brazos River and its associated bay
  and estuary system.
         (c)  For the river basin and bay systems listed in Subsection
  (b)(1):
               (1)  the advisory group shall appoint the basin and bay
  area stakeholders committee not later than November 1, 2007;
               (2)  the basin and bay area stakeholders committee
  shall establish a basin and bay expert science team not later than
  March 1, 2008;
               (3)  the basin and bay expert science team shall
  finalize environmental flow regime recommendations and submit them
  to the basin and bay area stakeholders committee, the advisory
  group, and the commission not later than March 1, 2009, except that
  at the request of the basin and bay area stakeholders committee for
  good cause shown, the advisory group may extend the deadline
  provided by this subdivision;
               (4)  the basin and bay area stakeholders committee
  shall submit to the commission its comments on and recommendations
  regarding the basin and bay expert science team's recommended
  environmental flow regime not later than September 1, 2009; and
               (5)  the commission shall adopt the environmental flow
  standards as provided by Section 11.1471 not later than September
  1, 2010.
         (d)  The advisory group shall appoint the basin and bay area
  stakeholders committees for the river basin and bay systems listed
  in Subsection (b)(2) not later than September 1, 2008, and shall
  appoint the basin and bay area stakeholders committees for the
  river basin and bay systems listed in Subsection (b)(3) not later
  than September 1, 2009. The advisory group shall establish a
  schedule for the performance of the tasks listed in Subsections
  (c)(2) through (5) with regard to the river basin and bay systems
  listed in Subsections (b)(2) and (3) that will result in the
  adoption of environmental flow standards for that river basin and
  bay system by the commission as soon as is reasonably possible.
  Each basin and bay area stakeholders committee and basin and bay
  expert science team for a river basin and bay system listed in
  Subsection (b)(2) or (3) shall make recommendations to the advisory
  group with regard to the schedule applicable to that river basin and
  bay system. The advisory group shall consider the recommendations
  of the basin and bay area stakeholders committee and basin and bay
  expert science team as well as coordinate with, and give
  appropriate consideration to the recommendations of, the
  commission, the Parks and Wildlife Department, and the board in
  establishing the schedule.
         (e)  For a river basin and bay system or a river basin that
  does not have an associated bay system in this state not listed in
  Subsection (b), the advisory group shall establish a schedule for
  the development of environmental flow regime recommendations and
  the adoption of environmental flow standards. The advisory group
  shall develop the schedule in consultation with the commission, the
  Parks and Wildlife Department, the board, and the pertinent basin
  and bay area stakeholders committee and basin and bay expert
  science team. The advisory group may, on its own initiative or on
  request, modify a schedule established under this subsection to be
  more responsive to particular circumstances, local desires,
  changing conditions, or time-sensitive conflicts. This subsection
  does not prohibit, in a river basin and bay system for which the
  advisory group has not yet established a schedule for the
  development of environmental flow regime recommendations and the
  adoption of environmental flow standards, an effort to develop
  information on environmental flow needs and ways in which those
  needs can be met by a voluntary consensus-building process.
         (f)  The advisory group shall appoint a basin and bay area
  stakeholders committee for each river basin and bay system in this
  state for which a schedule for the development of environmental
  flow regime recommendations and the adoption of environmental flow
  standards is specified by or established under Subsection (c), (d),
  or (e). Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the size,
  composition, or duration of a basin and bay area stakeholders
  committee.  Each committee must consist of at least 17 members. The
  membership of each committee must:
               (1)  reflect a fair and equitable balance of interest
  groups concerned with the particular river basin and bay system for
  which the committee is established; and
               (2)  be representative of appropriate stakeholders,
  including the following if they have a presence in the particular
  river basin and bay system for which the committee is established:
                     (A)  agricultural water users, including
  representatives of each of the following sectors:
                           (i)  agricultural irrigation;
                           (ii)  free-range livestock; and
                           (iii)  concentrated animal feeding
  operation;
                     (B)  recreational water users, including coastal
  recreational anglers and businesses supporting water recreation;
                     (C)  municipalities;
                     (D)  soil and water conservation districts;
                     (E)  industrial water users, including
  representatives of each of the following sectors:
                           (i)  refining;
                           (ii)  chemical manufacturing;
                           (iii)  electricity generation; and
                           (iv)  production of paper products or
  timber;
                     (F)  commercial fishermen;
                     (G)  public interest groups;
                     (H)  regional water planning groups;
                     (I)  groundwater conservation districts;
                     (J)  river authorities and other conservation and
  reclamation districts with jurisdiction over surface water; and
                     (K)  environmental interests.
         (g)  Members of a basin and bay area stakeholders committee
  serve five-year terms expiring March 1. If a vacancy occurs on a
  committee, the remaining members of the committee by majority vote
  shall appoint a member to serve the remainder of the unexpired term.
         (h)  Meetings of a basin and bay area stakeholders committee
  must be open to the public.
         (i)  Each basin and bay area stakeholders committee shall
  establish a basin and bay expert science team for the river basin
  and bay system for which the committee is established. The basin
  and bay expert science team must be established not later than six
  months after the date the basin and bay area stakeholders committee
  is established. Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to
  the size, composition, or duration of a basin and bay expert science
  team.  Each basin and bay expert science team must be composed of
  technical experts with special expertise regarding the river basin
  and bay system or regarding the development of environmental flow
  regimes.  A person may serve as a member of more than one basin and
  bay expert science team at the same time.
         (j)  The members of a basin and bay expert science team serve
  five-year terms expiring April 1. A vacancy on a basin and bay
  expert science team is filled by appointment by the pertinent basin
  and bay area stakeholders committee to serve the remainder of the
  unexpired term.
         (k)  The science advisory committee shall appoint one of its
  members to serve as a liaison to each basin and bay expert science
  team to facilitate coordination and consistency in environmental
  flow activities throughout the state. The commission, the Parks
  and Wildlife Department, and the board shall provide technical
  assistance to each basin and bay expert science team, including
  information about the studies conducted under Sections 16.058 and
  16.059, and may serve as nonvoting members of the basin and bay
  expert science team to facilitate the development of environmental
  flow regime recommendations.
         (l)  Where reasonably practicable, meetings of a basin and
  bay expert science team must be open to the public.
         (m)  Each basin and bay expert science team shall develop
  environmental flow analyses and a recommended environmental flow
  regime for the river basin and bay system for which the team is
  established through a collaborative process designed to achieve a
  consensus. In developing the analyses and recommendations, the
  science team must consider all reasonably available science,
  without regard to the need for the water for other uses, and the
  science team's recommendations must be based solely on the best
  science available.  For the Rio Grande below Fort Quitman, any uses
  attributable to Mexican water flows must be excluded from
  environmental flow regime recommendations.
         (n)  Each basin and bay expert science team shall submit its
  environmental flow analyses and environmental flow regime
  recommendations to the pertinent basin and bay area stakeholders
  committee, the advisory group, and the commission in accordance
  with the applicable schedule specified by or established under
  Subsection (c), (d), or (e). The basin and bay area stakeholders
  committee and the advisory group may not change the environmental
  flow analyses or environmental flow regime recommendations of the
  basin and bay expert science team.
         (o)  Each basin and bay area stakeholders committee shall
  review the environmental flow analyses and environmental flow
  regime recommendations submitted by the committee's basin and bay
  expert science team and shall consider them in conjunction with
  other factors, including the present and future needs for water for
  other uses related to water supply planning in the pertinent river
  basin and bay system. For  the Rio Grande, the basin and bay area
  stakeholders committee shall also consider the water accounting
  requirements for any international water sharing treaty, minutes,
  and agreement applicable to the Rio Grande and the effects on
  allocation of water by the Rio Grande watermaster in the middle and
  lower Rio Grande.  The Rio Grande basin and bay expert science team
  may not recommend any environmental flow regime that would result
  in a violation of a treaty or court decision.  The basin and bay area
  stakeholders committee shall develop recommendations regarding
  environmental flow standards and strategies to meet the
  environmental flow standards and submit those recommendations to
  the commission and to the advisory group in accordance with the
  applicable schedule specified by or established under Subsection
  (c), (d), or (e). In developing its recommendations, the basin and
  bay area stakeholders committee shall operate on a consensus basis
  to the maximum extent possible.
         (p)  In recognition of the importance of adaptive
  management, after submitting its recommendations regarding
  environmental flow standards and strategies to meet the
  environmental flow standards to the commission, each basin and bay
  area stakeholders committee, with the assistance of the pertinent
  basin and bay expert science team, shall prepare and submit for
  approval by the advisory group a work plan.  The work plan must:
               (1)  establish a periodic review of the basin and bay
  environmental flow analyses and environmental flow regime
  recommendations, environmental flow standards, and strategies, to
  occur at least once every 10 years;
               (2)  prescribe specific monitoring, studies, and
  activities; and
               (3)  establish a schedule for continuing the validation
  or refinement of the basin and bay environmental flow analyses and
  environmental flow regime recommendations, the environmental flow
  standards adopted by the commission, and the strategies to achieve
  those standards.
         (q)  In accordance with the applicable schedule specified by
  or established under Subsection (c), (d), or (e), the advisory
  group, with input from the science advisory committee, shall review
  the environmental flow analyses and environmental flow regime
  recommendations submitted by each basin and bay expert science
  team. If appropriate, the advisory group shall submit comments on
  the analyses and recommendations to the commission for use by the
  commission in adopting rules under Section 11.1471. Comments must
  be submitted not later than six months after the date of receipt of
  the analyses and recommendations.
         (r)  Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section,
  in the event the commission, by permit or order, has established an
  estuary advisory council with specific duties related to
  implementation of permit conditions for environmental flows, that
  council may continue in full force and effect and shall act as and
  perform the duties of the basin and bay area stakeholders committee
  under this section. The estuary advisory council shall add members
  from stakeholder groups and from appropriate science and technical
  groups, if necessary, to fully meet the criteria for membership
  established in Subsection (f) and shall operate under the
  provisions of this section.
         (s)  Each basin and bay area stakeholders committee and basin
  and bay expert science team is abolished on the date the advisory
  group is abolished under Section 11.0236(m).
         Sec. 11.0237.  WATER RIGHTS FOR INSTREAM FLOWS DEDICATED TO
  ENVIRONMENTAL NEEDS OR BAY AND ESTUARY INFLOWS.  (a)  The commission
  may not issue a new permit for instream flows dedicated to
  environmental needs or bay and estuary inflows.  The commission may
  approve an application to amend an existing permit or certificate
  of adjudication to change the use to or add a use for instream flows
  dedicated to environmental needs or bay and estuary inflows.
         (b)  This section does not alter the commission's
  obligations under Section 11.042(b) or (c), 11.046(b),
  11.085(k)(2)(F), 11.134(b)(3)(D), 11.147, 11.1471, 11.1491,
  11.150, 11.152, 16.058, or 16.059.
         SECTION 1.08.  Section 11.082(b), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The state may recover the penalties prescribed in
  Subsection (a) [of this section] by suit brought for that purpose in
  a court of competent jurisdiction. The state may seek those
  penalties regardless of whether a watermaster has been appointed
  for the water division, river basin, or segment of a river basin
  where the unlawful use is alleged to have occurred.
         SECTION 1.09.  Section 11.0841, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  For purposes of this section, the Parks and Wildlife
  Department has:
               (1)  the rights of a holder of a water right that is
  held in the Texas Water Trust, including the right to file suit in a
  civil court to prevent the unlawful use of such a right;
               (2)  the right to act in the same manner that a holder
  of a water right may act to protect the holder's rights in seeking
  to prevent any person from appropriating water in violation of a
  set-aside established by the commission under Section 11.1471 to
  meet instream flow needs or freshwater inflow needs; and
               (3)  the right to file suit in a civil court to prevent
  the unlawful use of a set-aside established under Section 11.1471.
         SECTION 1.10.  Section 11.0842(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  If a person violates this chapter, a rule or order
  adopted under this chapter or Section 16.236 [of this code], or a
  permit, certified filing, or certificate of adjudication issued
  under this chapter, the commission may assess an administrative
  penalty against that person as provided by this section. The
  commission may assess an administrative penalty for a violation
  relating to a water division or a river basin or segment of a river
  basin regardless of whether a watermaster has been appointed for
  the water division or river basin or segment of the river basin.
         SECTION 1.11.  Section 11.0843(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  Upon witnessing a violation of this chapter or a rule or
  order or a water right issued under this chapter, the executive
  director or a person designated by the executive director,
  including a watermaster or the watermaster's deputy, [as defined by
  commission rule,] may issue the alleged violator a field citation
  alleging that a violation has occurred and providing the alleged
  violator the option of either:
               (1)  without admitting to or denying the alleged
  violation, paying an administrative penalty in accordance with the
  predetermined penalty amount established under Subsection (b) [of
  this section] and taking remedial action as provided in the
  citation; or
               (2)  requesting a hearing on the alleged violation in
  accordance with Section 11.0842 [of this code].
         SECTION 1.12.  Section 11.134(b), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The commission shall grant the application only if:
               (1)  the application conforms to the requirements
  prescribed by this chapter and is accompanied by the prescribed
  fee;
               (2)  unappropriated water is available in the source of
  supply;
               (3)  the proposed appropriation:
                     (A)  is intended for a beneficial use;
                     (B)  does not impair existing water rights or
  vested riparian rights;
                     (C)  is not detrimental to the public welfare;
                     (D)  considers any applicable environmental flow
  standards established under Section 11.1471 and, if applicable, the
  assessments performed under Sections 11.147(d) and (e) and Sections
  11.150, 11.151, and 11.152; and
                     (E)  addresses a water supply need in a manner
  that is consistent with the state water plan and the relevant
  approved regional water plan for any area in which the proposed
  appropriation is located, unless the commission determines that
  conditions warrant waiver of this requirement; and
               (4)  the applicant has provided evidence that
  reasonable diligence will be used to avoid waste and achieve water
  conservation as defined by [Subdivision (8)(B),] Section
  11.002(8)(B) [11.002].
         SECTION 1.13.  Section 11.147, Water Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (b), (d), and (e) and adding Subsections
  (e-1), (e-2), and (e-3) to read as follows:
         (b)  In its consideration of an application for a permit to
  store, take, or divert water, the commission shall assess the
  effects, if any, of the issuance of the permit on the bays and
  estuaries of Texas. For permits issued within an area that is 200
  river miles of the coast, to commence from the mouth of the river
  thence inland, the commission shall include in the permit any
  conditions considered necessary to maintain beneficial inflows to
  any affected bay and estuary system, to the extent practicable when
  considering all public interests and the studies mandated by
  Section 16.058 as evaluated under Section 11.1491[, those
  conditions considered necessary to maintain beneficial inflows to
  any affected bay and estuary system].
         (d)  In its consideration of an application to store, take,
  or divert water, the commission shall include in the permit, to the
  extent practicable when considering all public interests, those
  conditions considered by the commission necessary to maintain
  existing instream uses and water quality of the stream or river to
  which the application applies. In determining what conditions to
  include in the permit under this subsection, the commission shall
  consider among other factors:
               (1)  the studies mandated by Section 16.059; and
               (2)  any water quality assessment performed under
  Section 11.150.
         (e)  The commission shall include in the permit, to the
  extent practicable when considering all public interests, those
  conditions considered by the commission necessary to maintain fish
  and wildlife habitats. In determining what conditions to include
  in the permit under this subsection, the commission shall consider
  any assessment performed under Section 11.152.
         (e-1)  Any permit for a new appropriation of water or an
  amendment to an existing water right that increases the amount of
  water authorized to be stored, taken, or diverted must include a
  provision allowing the commission to adjust the conditions included
  in the permit or amended water right to provide for protection of
  instream flows or freshwater inflows. With respect to an amended
  water right, the provision may not allow the commission to adjust a
  condition of the amendment other than a condition that applies only
  to the increase in the amount of water to be stored, taken, or
  diverted authorized by the amendment.  This subsection does not
  affect an appropriation of or an authorization to store, take, or
  divert water under a permit or amendment to a water right issued
  before September 1, 2007.  The commission shall adjust the
  conditions if the commission determines, through an expedited
  public comment process, that such an adjustment is appropriate to
  achieve compliance with applicable environmental flow standards
  adopted under Section 11.1471. The adjustment:
               (1)  in combination with any previous adjustments made
  under this subsection may not increase the amount of the
  pass-through or release requirement for the protection of instream
  flows or freshwater inflows by more than 12.5 percent of the
  annualized total of that requirement contained in the permit as
  issued or of that requirement contained in the amended water right
  and applicable only to the increase in the amount of water
  authorized to be stored, taken, or diverted under the amended water
  right;
               (2)  must be based on appropriate consideration of the
  priority dates and diversion locations of any other water rights
  granted in the same river basin that are subject to adjustment under
  this subsection; and
               (3)  must be based on appropriate consideration of any
  voluntary contributions to the Texas Water Trust, and of any
  voluntary amendments to existing water rights to change the use of a
  specified quantity of water to or add a use of a specified quantity
  of water for instream flows dedicated to environmental needs or bay
  and estuary inflows as authorized by Section 11.0237(a), that
  actually contribute toward meeting the applicable environmental
  flow standards.
         (e-2)  Any water right holder who makes a contribution or
  amends a water right as described by Subsection (e-1)(3) is
  entitled to appropriate credit for the benefits of the contribution
  or amendment against the adjustment of the holder's water right
  under Subsection (e-1).
         (e-3)  Notwithstanding Subsections (b)-(e), for the purpose
  of determining the environmental flow conditions necessary to
  maintain freshwater inflows to an affected bay and estuary system,
  existing instream uses and water quality of a stream or river, or
  fish and aquatic wildlife habitats, the commission shall apply any
  applicable environmental flow standard, including any
  environmental flow set-aside, adopted under Section 11.1471
  instead of considering the factors specified by those subsections.
         SECTION 1.14.  Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 11.1471 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.1471.  ENVIRONMENTAL FLOW STANDARDS AND SET-ASIDES.
  (a)  The commission by rule shall:
               (1)  adopt appropriate environmental flow standards
  for each river basin and bay system in this state that are adequate
  to support a sound ecological environment, to the maximum extent
  reasonable considering other public interests and other relevant
  factors;
               (2)  establish an amount of unappropriated water, if
  available, to be set aside to satisfy the environmental flow
  standards to the maximum extent reasonable when considering human
  water needs; and
               (3)  establish procedures for implementing an
  adjustment of the conditions included in a permit or an amended
  water right as provided by Sections 11.147(e-1) and (e-2).
         (b)  In adopting environmental flow standards for a river
  basin and bay system under Subsection (a)(1), the commission shall
  consider:
               (1)  the definition of the geographical extent of the
  river basin and bay system adopted by the advisory group under
  Section 11.02362(a) and the definition and designation of the river
  basin by the board under Section 16.051(c);
               (2)  the schedule established by the advisory group
  under Section 11.02362(d) or (e) for the adoption of environmental
  flow standards for the river basin and bay system, if applicable;
               (3)  the environmental flow analyses and the
  recommended environmental flow regime developed by the applicable
  basin and bay expert science team under Section 11.02362(m);
               (4)  the recommendations developed by the applicable
  basin and bay area stakeholders committee under Section 11.02362(o)
  regarding environmental flow standards and strategies to meet the
  flow standards;
               (5)  any comments submitted by the advisory group to
  the commission under Section 11.02362(q);
               (6)  the specific characteristics of the river basin
  and bay system;
               (7)  economic factors;
               (8)  the human and other competing water needs in the
  river basin and bay system;
               (9)  all reasonably available scientific information,
  including any scientific information provided by the science
  advisory committee; and
               (10)  any other appropriate information.
         (c)  Environmental flow standards adopted under Subsection
  (a)(1) must consist of a schedule of flow quantities, reflecting
  seasonal and yearly fluctuations that may vary geographically by
  specific location in a river basin and bay system.
         (d)  As provided by Section 11.023, the commission may not
  issue a permit for a new appropriation or an amendment to an
  existing water right that increases the amount of water authorized
  to be stored, taken, or diverted if the issuance of the permit or
  amendment would impair an environmental flow set-aside established
  under Subsection (a)(2). A permit for a new appropriation or an
  amendment to an existing water right that increases the amount of
  water authorized to be stored, taken, or diverted that is issued
  after the adoption of an applicable environmental flow set-aside
  must contain appropriate conditions to ensure protection of the
  environmental flow set-aside.
         (e)  An environmental flow set-aside established under
  Subsection (a)(2) for a river basin and bay system other than the
  middle and lower Rio Grande must be assigned a priority date
  corresponding to the date the commission receives environmental
  flow regime recommendations from the applicable basin and bay
  expert science team and be included in the appropriate water
  availability models in connection with an application for a permit
  for a new appropriation or for an amendment to an existing water
  right that increases the amount of water authorized to be stored,
  taken, or diverted.
         (f)  An environmental flow standard or environmental flow
  set-aside adopted under Subsection (a) may be altered by the
  commission in a rulemaking process undertaken in accordance with a
  schedule established by the commission.  In establishing a
  schedule, the commission shall consider the applicable work plan
  approved by the advisory group under Section 11.02362(p).  The
  commission's schedule may not provide for the rulemaking process to
  occur more frequently than once every 10 years unless the work plan
  provides for a periodic review under Section 11.02362(p) to occur
  more frequently than once every 10 years.  In that event, the
  commission may provide for the rulemaking process to be undertaken
  in conjunction with the periodic review if the commission
  determines that schedule to be appropriate.  A rulemaking process
  undertaken under this subsection must provide for the participation
  of stakeholders having interests in the particular river basin and
  bay system for which the process is undertaken.
         SECTION 1.15.  The heading to Section 11.148, Water Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.148.  EMERGENCY SUSPENSION OF PERMIT CONDITIONS AND
  EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO MAKE AVAILABLE WATER SET ASIDE FOR
  ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS.
         SECTION 1.16.  Section 11.148, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsections (b) and (c) to
  read as follows:
         (a-1)  State water that is set aside by the commission to
  meet the needs for freshwater inflows to affected bays and
  estuaries and instream uses under Section 11.1471(a)(2) may be made
  available temporarily for other essential beneficial uses if the
  commission finds that an emergency exists that cannot practically
  be resolved in another way.
         (b)  Before the commission suspends a permit condition under
  Subsection (a) or makes water available temporarily under
  Subsection (a-1) [of this section], it must give written notice to
  the Parks and Wildlife Department of the proposed action
  [suspension]. The commission shall give the Parks and Wildlife
  Department an opportunity to submit comments on the proposed action
  [suspension] within 72 hours from such time and the commission
  shall consider those comments before issuing its order implementing
  the proposed action [imposing the suspension].
         (c)  The commission may suspend the permit condition under
  Subsection (a) or make water available temporarily under Subsection
  (a-1) without notice to any other interested party other than the
  Parks and Wildlife Department as provided by Subsection (b) [of
  this section]. However, all affected persons shall be notified
  immediately by publication, and a hearing to determine whether the
  suspension should be continued shall be held within 15 days of the
  date on which the order to suspend is issued.
         SECTION 1.17.  Section 11.1491(a), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The Parks and Wildlife Department and the commission
  shall have joint responsibility to review the studies prepared
  under Section 16.058 [of this code], to determine inflow conditions
  necessary for the bays and estuaries, and to provide information
  necessary for water resources management. Each agency shall
  designate an employee to share equally in the oversight of the
  program. Other responsibilities shall be divided between the Parks
  and Wildlife Department and the commission to maximize present
  in-house capabilities of personnel and to minimize costs to the
  state. Each agency shall have reasonable access to all information
  produced by the other agency. Publication of reports completed
  under this section shall be submitted for comment to [both] the
  commission, [and] the Parks and Wildlife Department, the advisory
  group, the science advisory committee, and any applicable basin and
  bay area stakeholders committee and basin and bay expert science
  team.
         SECTION 1.18.  Section 11.329(g), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (g)  The commission may not assess costs under this section
  against a holder of a non-priority hydroelectric right that owns or
  operates privately owned facilities that collectively have a
  capacity of less than two megawatts or against a holder of a water
  right placed in the Texas Water Trust for a term of at least 20
  years. [This subsection is not intended to affect in any way the
  fees assessed on a water right holder by the commission under
  Section 1.29(d), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular
  Session, 1993. For purposes of Section 1.29(d), Chapter 626, Acts
  of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, a holder of a
  non-priority hydroelectric right that owns or operates privately
  owned facilities that collectively have a capacity of less than two
  megawatts shall be assessed fees at the same rate per acre-foot
  charged to a holder of a non-priority hydroelectric right that owns
  or operates privately owned facilities that collectively have a
  capacity of more than two megawatts.]
         SECTION 1.19.  Section 11.404(e), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  The court may not assess costs and expenses under this
  section against:
               (1)  a holder of a non-priority hydroelectric right
  that owns or operates privately owned facilities that collectively
  have a capacity of less than two megawatts; or
               (2)  a holder of a water right placed in the Texas Water
  Trust for a term of at least 20 years.
         SECTION 1.20.  Subchapter I, Chapter 11, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 11.4531 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.4531.  WATERMASTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)  For
  each river basin or segment of a river basin for which the executive
  director appoints a watermaster under this subchapter, the
  executive director shall appoint a watermaster advisory committee
  consisting of at least nine but not more than 15 members. A member
  of the advisory committee must be a holder of a water right or a
  representative of a holder of a water right in the river basin or
  segment of the river basin for which the watermaster is appointed.
  In appointing members to the advisory committee, the executive
  director shall consider:
               (1)  geographic representation;
               (2)  amount of water rights held;
               (3)  different types of holders of water rights and
  users, including water districts, municipal suppliers, irrigators,
  and industrial users; and
               (4)  experience and knowledge of water management
  practices.
         (b)  An advisory committee member is not entitled to
  reimbursement of expenses or to compensation.
         (c)  An advisory committee member serves a two-year term
  expiring August 31 of each odd-numbered year and holds office until
  a successor is appointed.
         (d)  The advisory committee shall meet within 30 days after
  the date the initial appointments have been made and shall select a
  presiding officer to serve a one-year term. The committee shall
  meet regularly as necessary.
         (e)  The advisory committee shall:
               (1)  make recommendations to the executive director
  regarding activities of benefit to the holders of water rights in
  the administration and distribution of water to holders of water
  rights in the river basin or segment of the river basin for which
  the watermaster is appointed;
               (2)  review and comment to the executive director on
  the annual budget of the watermaster operation; and
               (3)  perform other advisory duties as requested by the
  executive director regarding the watermaster operation or as
  requested by holders of water rights and considered by the
  committee to benefit the administration of water rights in the
  river basin or segment of the river basin for which the watermaster
  is appointed.
         SECTION 1.21.  Sections 11.454 and 11.455, Water Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.454.  DUTIES AND AUTHORITY OF THE WATERMASTER.
  Section 11.327 applies to the duties and authority of a watermaster
  appointed for a river basin or segment of a river basin under this
  subchapter in the same manner as that section applies to the duties
  and authority of a watermaster appointed for a water division under
  Subchapter G [A watermaster as the agent of the commission and under
  the executive director's supervision shall:
               [(1)     divide the water of the streams or other sources
  of supply of his segment or basin in accordance with the authorized
  water rights;
               [(2)     regulate or cause to be regulated the controlling
  works of reservoirs and diversion works in time of water shortage,
  as is necessary because of the rights existing in the streams of his
  segment or basin, or as is necessary to prevent the waste of water
  or its diversion, taking, storage, or use in excess of the
  quantities to which the holders of water rights are lawfully
  entitled; and
               [(3)     perform any other duties and exercise any
  authority directed by the commission].
         Sec. 11.455.  COMPENSATION AND EXPENSES OF WATERMASTER 
  [ASSESSMENTS]. (a)  Section 11.329 applies to the payment of the
  compensation and expenses of a watermaster appointed for a river
  basin or segment of a river basin under this subchapter in the same
  manner as that section applies to the payment of the compensation
  and expenses of a watermaster appointed for a water division under
  Subchapter G.
         (b)  The executive director shall deposit the assessments
  collected under this section to the credit of the watermaster fund.
         (c)  Money deposited under this section to the credit of the
  watermaster fund may be used only for the purposes specified by
  Section 11.3291 with regard to the watermaster operation under this
  subchapter with regard to which the assessments were collected [The
  commission may assess the costs of the watermaster against all
  persons who hold water rights in the river basin or segment of the
  river basin under the watermaster's jurisdiction in accordance with
  Section 11.329 of this code].
         SECTION 1.22.  Subchapter F, Chapter 15, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 15.4063 to read as follows:
         Sec. 15.4063.  ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS FUNDING. The board may
  authorize the use of money in the research and planning fund:
               (1)  to compensate the members of the Texas
  environmental flows science advisory committee established under
  Section 11.02361 for attendance and participation at meetings of
  the committee and for transportation, meals, lodging, or other
  travel expenses associated with attendance at those meetings as
  provided by the General Appropriations Act;
               (2)  for contracts with cooperating state and federal
  agencies and universities and with private entities as necessary to
  provide technical assistance to enable the Texas environmental
  flows science advisory committee and the basin and bay expert
  science teams established under Section 11.02362 to perform their
  statutory duties;
               (3)  to compensate the members of the basin and bay
  expert science teams established under Section 11.02362 for
  attendance and participation at meetings of the basin and bay
  expert science teams and for transportation, meals, lodging, or
  other travel expenses associated with attendance at those meetings
  as provided by the General Appropriations Act; and
               (4)  for contracts with political subdivisions
  designated as representatives of basin and bay area stakeholders
  committees established under Section 11.02362 to fund all or part
  of the administrative expenses incurred in conducting meetings of
  the basin and bay area stakeholders committees or the pertinent
  basin and bay expert science teams.
         SECTION 1.23.  Section 16.059(d), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (d)  The priority studies shall be completed not later than
  December 31, 2016 [2010]. The Parks and Wildlife Department, the
  commission, and the board shall establish a work plan that
  prioritizes the studies and that sets interim deadlines providing
  for publication of flow determinations for individual rivers and
  streams on a reasonably consistent basis throughout the prescribed
  study period. Before publication, completed studies shall be
  submitted for comment to the commission, the board, and the Parks
  and Wildlife Department.
         SECTION 1.24.  Section 26.0135(h), Water Code, as amended by
  Chapters 234 and 965, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2001, is reenacted and amended to read as follows:
         (h)  The commission shall apportion, assess, and recover the
  reasonable costs of administering the water quality management
  programs under this section from users of water and wastewater
  permit holders in the watershed according to the records of the
  commission generally in proportion to their right, through permit
  or contract, to use water from and discharge wastewater in the
  watershed. Irrigation water rights, [and] non-priority
  hydroelectric rights of a water right holder that owns or operates
  privately owned facilities that collectively have a capacity of
  less than two megawatts, and water rights held in the Texas Water
  Trust for terms of at least 20 years will not be subject to this
  assessment. The cost to river authorities and others to conduct
  water quality monitoring and assessment shall be subject to prior
  review and approval by the commission as to methods of allocation
  and total amount to be recovered. The commission shall adopt rules
  to supervise and implement the water quality monitoring,
  assessment, and associated costs. The rules shall ensure that
  water users and wastewater dischargers do not pay excessive
  amounts, that program funds are equitably apportioned among basins,
  that a river authority may recover no more than the actual costs of
  administering the water quality management programs called for in
  this section, and that no municipality shall be assessed cost for
  any efforts that duplicate water quality management activities
  described in Section 26.177 [of this chapter]. The rules
  concerning the apportionment and assessment of reasonable costs
  shall provide for a recovery of not more than $5,000,000 annually.
  Costs recovered by the commission are to be deposited to the credit
  of the water resource management account and may be used only to
  accomplish the purposes of this section. The commission may apply
  not more than 10 percent of the costs recovered annually toward the
  commission's overhead costs for the administration of this section
  and the implementation of regional water quality assessments. The
  commission, with the assistance and input of each river authority,
  shall file a written report accounting for the costs recovered
  under this section with the governor, the lieutenant governor, and
  the speaker of the house of representatives on or before December 1
  of each even-numbered year.
         SECTION 1.25.  Section 11.1491(b), Water Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 1.26.  (a)  The governor, lieutenant governor, and
  speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint the initial
  members of the environmental flows advisory group as provided by
  Section 11.0236, Water Code, as added by this article, as soon as
  practicable on or after the effective date of this article.
         (b)  As soon as practicable after taking office, the initial
  members of the environmental flows advisory group shall appoint the
  initial members of the Texas environmental flows science advisory
  committee as provided by Section 11.02361, Water Code, as added by
  this article. The terms of the initial members of the committee
  expire March 1, 2012.
         (c)  The environmental flows advisory group shall appoint
  the members of each basin and bay area stakeholders committee as
  provided by Section 11.02362, Water Code, as added by this article.
  The terms of the initial members of each committee expire March 1 of
  the fifth year that begins after the year in which the initial
  appointments are made.
         (d)  Each basin and bay area stakeholders committee shall
  appoint the members of the basin and bay expert science team for the
  river basin and bay system for which the committee is established as
  provided by Section 11.02362, Water Code, as added by this article.
  The terms of the initial members of each team expire April 1 of the
  fifth year that begins after the year in which the initial
  appointments are made.
         (e)  The executive director of the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality shall appoint the members of the watermaster
  advisory committee under Section 11.4531, Water Code, as added by
  this article, for each river basin or segment of a river basin for
  which the executive director appoints a watermaster under
  Subchapter I, Chapter 11, Water Code. The terms of the initial
  members of each committee expire August 31 of the first
  odd-numbered year that begins after the year in which the initial
  appointments are made.
         SECTION 1.27.  The changes in law made by this article
  relating to a permit for a new appropriation of water or to an
  amendment to an existing water right that increases the amount of
  water authorized to be stored, taken, or diverted apply only to:
               (1)  water appropriated under a permit for a new
  appropriation of water the application for which is pending with
  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the effective date
  of this Act or is filed with the commission on or after that date; or
               (2)  the increase in the amount of water authorized to
  be stored, taken, or diverted under an amendment to an existing
  water right that increases the amount of water authorized to be
  stored, taken, or diverted and the application for which is pending
  with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on the effective
  date of this Act or is filed with the commission on or after that
  date.
  ARTICLE 2. EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY
         SECTION 2.01.  Section 1.11, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended by amending
  Subsection (f) and adding Subsections (f-1) and (f-2) to read as
  follows:
         (f)  The authority may own, finance, design, [contract with a
  person who uses water from the aquifer for the authority or that
  person to] construct, operate, or [own, finance, and] maintain
  recharge [water supply] facilities. [Management fees or special
  fees may not be used for purchasing or operating these facilities.]
  For the purpose of this subsection, "recharge [water supply]
  facility" means [includes] a dam, reservoir, [treatment facility,
  transmission facility,] or other method of recharge project and
  associated facilities, structures, or works but does not include a
  facility to recirculate water at Comal or San Marcos Springs.
         (f-1)  The authority shall provide written notice of the
  intent to own, finance, design, construct, operate, or maintain
  recharge facilities to:
               (1)  each groundwater conservation district in the area
  in which the recharge facility will be located;
               (2)  the mayor of each municipality in the area in which
  the recharge facility will be located;
               (3)  the county judge of each county in the area in
  which the recharge facility will be located; and
               (4)  each member of the legislature who represents the
  area in which the proposed recharge facility will be located.
         (f-2)  Any entity within the county in which a recharge
  facility is to be constructed shall be provided opportunity for
  input and allowed to provide proposals for partnering with the
  authority to own, finance, design, construct, operate, or maintain
  the recharge facility.
         SECTION 2.02.  Sections 1.14(a), (c), (e), (f), and (h),
  Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Authorizations to withdraw water from the aquifer and
  all authorizations and rights to make a withdrawal under this Act
  shall be limited in accordance with this section to:
               (1)  protect the water quality of the aquifer;
               (2)  protect the water quality of the surface streams
  to which the aquifer provides springflow;
               (3)  achieve water conservation;
               (4)  maximize the beneficial use of water available for
  withdrawal from the aquifer;
               (5)  recognize the extent of the hydro-geologic
  connection and interaction between surface water and groundwater;
               (6)  protect aquatic and wildlife habitat;
               (7) [(6)]  protect species that are designated as
  threatened or endangered under applicable federal or state law; and
               (8) [(7)]  provide for instream uses, bays, and
  estuaries.
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsections [(d),] (f)[,] and (h)
  of this section and Section 1.26 of this article, for the period
  beginning January 1, 2008, the amount of permitted withdrawals from
  the aquifer may not  exceed or be less than 572,000 [400,000]
  acre-feet of water for each calendar year, which is the sum of all
  regular permits issued or for which an application was filed and
  issuance was pending action by the authority as of January 1, 2005.
         (e)  The authority may not allow withdrawals from the aquifer
  through wells drilled after June 1, 1993, except for replacement,
  test, or exempt wells or to the extent that the authority approves
  an amendment to an initial regular permit to authorize a change in
  the point of withdrawal under that permit [additional water as
  provided by Subsection (d) and then on an interruptible basis].
         (f)  If the level of the aquifer is equal to or greater than
  660 [650] feet above mean sea level as measured at Well J-17, the
  authority may authorize withdrawal from the San Antonio pool, on an
  uninterruptible basis, of permitted amounts. If the level of the
  aquifer is equal to or greater than 845 feet at Well J-27, the
  authority may authorize withdrawal from the Uvalde pool, on an
  uninterruptible basis, of permitted amounts. [The authority shall
  limit the additional withdrawals to ensure that springflows are not
  affected during critical drought conditions.]
         (h)  To accomplish the purposes of this article, [by June 1,
  1994,] the authority, through a program, shall implement and
  enforce water management practices, procedures, and methods to
  ensure that, not later than December 31, 2012, the continuous
  minimum springflows of the Comal Springs and the San Marcos Springs
  are maintained to protect endangered and threatened species to the
  extent required by federal law and to achieve other purposes
  provided by Subsection (a) of this section and Section 1.26 of this
  article. The authority from time to time as appropriate may revise
  the practices, procedures, and methods. To meet this requirement,
  the authority shall require:
               (1)  phased adjustments to [reductions in] the amount
  of water that may be used or withdrawn by existing users or
  categories of other users, including adjustments in accordance with
  the authority's critical period management plan established under
  Section 1.26 of this article; or
               (2)  implementation of alternative management
  practices, procedures, and methods.
         SECTION 2.03.  Section 1.16(g), Chapter 626, Acts of the
  73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (g)  The authority shall issue an initial regular permit
  without a term, and an initial regular permit remains in effect
  until the permit is abandoned or[,] cancelled[, or retired].
         SECTION 2.04.  Section 1.19(b), Chapter 626, Acts of the
  73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (b)  Withdrawal of water under a term permit must be
  consistent with the authority's critical period management plan
  established under Section 1.26 of this article. A holder of a term
  permit may not withdraw water from the San Antonio pool of the
  aquifer unless:
               (1)  the level of the aquifer is higher than 675 [665]
  feet above sea level, as measured at Well J-17;
               (2)  the flow at Comal Springs as determined by Section
  1.26(c) of this article is greater than 350 cubic feet per second;
  and
               (3)  the flow at San Marcos Springs as determined by
  Section 1.26(c) of this article is greater than 200 cubic feet per
  second.
         SECTION 2.05.  Section 1.22(a), Chapter 626, Acts of the
  73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The authority may acquire permitted rights to use water
  from the aquifer for the purposes of:
               (1)  holding those rights in trust for sale or transfer
  of the water or the rights to persons within the authority's
  jurisdiction who may use water from the aquifer;
               (2)  holding those rights in trust as a means of
  managing overall demand on the aquifer; or
               (3)  holding those rights for resale [or retirement as
  a means of complying with pumping reduction requirements under this
  article; or
               [(4)     retiring those rights, including those rights
  already permitted].
         SECTION 2.06.  Article 1, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended by amending Section
  1.26 and adding Section 1.26A to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.26.  CRITICAL PERIOD MANAGEMENT PLAN. (a)  After
  review of the recommendations received in the program document, as
  prescribed by Section 1.26A of this article, the [The] authority by
  rule shall adopt [prepare and coordinate implementation of] a [plan
  for] critical period management plan consistent with Sections
  1.14(a), (f), and (h) of this article [on or before September 1,
  1995]. The critical period management plan shall be adopted by the
  authority no later than six months after the authority's receipt of
  the program document. On adoption of the critical period
  management plan, the authority shall provide a written report to
  the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives describing the actions taken in response to each
  recommendation and, for each recommendation not implemented, the
  reason it was not implemented. The plan [mechanisms] must:
               (1)  distinguish between discretionary use and
  nondiscretionary use;
               (2)  require reductions of all discretionary use to the
  maximum extent feasible;
               (3)  require utility pricing, to the maximum extent
  feasible, to limit discretionary use by the customers of water
  utilities; [and]
               (4)  require reduction of nondiscretionary use by
  permitted or contractual users, to the extent further reductions
  are necessary, in the reverse order of the following water use
  preferences:
                     (A)  municipal, domestic, and livestock;
                     (B)  industrial and crop irrigation;
                     (C)  residential landscape irrigation;
                     (D)  recreational and pleasure; and
                     (E)  other uses that are authorized by law; and
               (5)  allow irrigation use to continue in order to
  permit the user to complete the irrigation of a crop in progress.
         (b)  In this section, "MSL" means the elevation above mean
  sea level, measured in feet, of the surface of the water in a well,
  and "CFS" means cubic feet per second. Not later than January 1,
  2008, the authority shall, by rule, adopt and enforce a critical
  period management plan with withdrawal reduction percentages in the
  amounts indicated in Tables 1 and 2 whether according to the index
  well levels or the Comal or San Marcos Springs flow as applicable,
  for a total in critical period Stage IV of 40 percent of the
  permitted withdrawals under Table 1 and 35 percent under Table 2:
  TABLE 1
  CRITICAL PERIOD WITHDRAWAL REDUCTION STAGES
  FOR THE SAN ANTONIO POOL
 
Comal San Marcos Springs Flow cfs Index Well J-17 Level MSL Critical Period Stage Withdrawal Reduction- San Antonio Pool
 
Springs Flow San Marcos Springs Flow cfs Index Well J-17 Level MSL Critical Period Stage Withdrawal Reduction- San Antonio Pool
 
cfs San Marcos Springs Flow cfs Index Well J-17 Level MSL Critical Period Stage Withdrawal Reduction- San Antonio Pool
 
225 <96 <660 I 20%
 
200 <80 <650 II 30%
 
150 N/A <640 III 35%
 
100 N/A <630 IV 40%
  TABLE 2
  CRITICAL PERIOD WITHDRAWAL REDUCTION STAGES
  FOR THE UVALDE POOL
 
Withdrawal Reduction-Uvalde Pool Index Well J-27 Level MSL Critical Period Stage
 
N/A --- I
 
5% <850 II
 
20% <845 III
 
35% <842 IV
         (c)  A change to a critical period stage with higher
  withdrawal reduction percentages is triggered if the 10-day average
  of daily springflows at the Comal Springs or the San Marcos Springs
  or the 10-day average of daily aquifer levels at the J-17 Index Well
  drops below the lowest number of any of the trigger levels indicated
  in Table 1. A change to a critical period stage with lower
  withdrawal reduction percentages is triggered only when the 10-day
  average of daily springflows at the Comal Springs and the San Marcos
  Springs and the 10-day average of daily aquifer levels at the J-17
  Index Well are all above the same stage trigger level. The
  authority may adjust the withdrawal percentages for Stage IV in
  Tables 1 and 2 if necessary in order to comply with Subsection (d)
  or (e) of this section.
         (d)  Beginning September 1, 2007, the authority may not
  require the volume of permitted withdrawals to be less than an
  annualized rate of 340,000 acre-feet, under critical period Stage
  IV.
         (e)  After January 1, 2013, the authority may not require the
  volume of permitted withdrawals to be less than an annualized rate
  of 320,000 acre-feet, under critical period Stage IV unless, after
  review and consideration of the recommendations provided under
  Section 1.26A of this article, the authority determines that a
  different volume of withdrawals is consistent with Sections
  1.14(a), (f), and (h) of this article in maintaining protection for
  federally listed threatened and endangered species associated with
  the aquifer to the extent required by federal law.
         (f)  Notwithstanding Subsections (d) and (e) of this
  section, the authority may require further withdrawal reductions
  before reviewing and considering the recommendations provided
  under Section 1.26A of this article if the discharge of Comal
  Springs or San Marcos Springs declines an additional 15 percent
  after Stage IV withdrawal reductions are imposed under Subsection
  (b) of this section. This subsection expires on the date that
  critical period management plan rules adopted by the authority
  based on the recommendations provided under Section 1.26A of this
  article take effect.
         (g)  Notwithstanding the existence of any stage of an interim
  or final critical period adopted by the authority under this
  section, a person authorized to withdraw groundwater from the
  aquifer for irrigation purposes shall, without regard to the
  withdrawal reductions prescribed for that stage, be allowed to
  finish a crop already planted in the calendar year during which the
  critical period is in effect.
         Sec. 1.26A.  DEVELOPMENT OF WITHDRAWAL REDUCTION LEVELS AND
  STAGES FOR CRITICAL PERIOD MANAGEMENT THROUGH RECOVERY
  IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. (a)  The authority, with the assistance of
  Texas A&M University, shall cooperatively develop a recovery
  implementation program through a facilitated, consensus-based
  process that involves input from the United States Fish and
  Wildlife Service, other appropriate federal agencies, and all
  interested stakeholders, including those listed under Subsection
  (e)(1) of this section. The recovery implementation program shall
  be developed for the species that are:
               (1)  listed as threatened or endangered species under
  federal law; and
               (2)  associated with the aquifer.
         (b)  The authority shall enter into a memorandum of agreement
  with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, other appropriate
  federal agencies, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality,
  the Parks and Wildlife Department, the Department of Agriculture,
  the Texas Water Development Board, and other stakeholders, not
  later than December 31, 2007, in order to develop a program document
  that may be in the form of a habitat conservation plan used in
  issuance of an incidental take permit as outlined in Subsection (d)
  of this section.
         (c)  The authority shall enter into an implementing
  agreement with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, other
  appropriate federal agencies, the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality, the Parks and Wildlife Department, the
  Department of Agriculture, the Texas Water Development Board, and
  other stakeholders to develop a program document that may be in the
  form of a habitat conservation plan used in issuance of an
  incidental take permit as outlined in Subsection (d) of this
  section not later than December 31, 2009.
         (d)  The authority, the Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality, the Parks and Wildlife Department, the Department of
  Agriculture, the Texas Water Development Board, and other
  stakeholders shall jointly prepare a program document that may be
  in the form of a habitat conservation plan used in issuance of an
  incidental take permit with the United States secretary of the
  interior, through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and
  other appropriate federal agencies, under Section 4 or Section 6,
  Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. Section 1533 or 1535), as
  applicable, based on the program developed under Subsection (a) of
  this section. The program document shall:
               (1)  provide recommendations for withdrawal
  adjustments based on a combination of spring discharge rates of the
  San Marcos and Comal Springs and levels at the J-17 and J-27 wells
  during critical periods to ensure that federally listed,
  threatened, and endangered species associated with the Edwards
  Aquifer will be protected at all times, including throughout a
  repeat of the drought of record;
               (2)  include provisions to pursue cooperative and grant
  funding to the extent available from all state, federal, and other
  sources for eligible programs included in the cooperative agreement
  under Subsection (c) of this section, including funding for a
  program director; and
               (3)  be approved and executed by the authority, the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Parks and Wildlife
  Department, the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Water
  Development Board, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service
  not later than September 1, 2012, and the agreement shall take
  effect December 31, 2012.
         (e)  Texas A&M University shall assist in the creation of a
  steering committee to oversee and assist in the development of the
  cooperative agreement under Subsection (c) of this section. The
  steering committee must be created not later than September 30,
  2007. The initial steering committee shall be composed of:
               (1)  a representative of each of the following
  entities, as appointed by the governing body of that entity:
                     (A)  the Edwards Aquifer Authority;
                     (B)  the Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality;
                     (C)  the Parks and Wildlife Department;
                     (D)  the Department of Agriculture;
                     (E)  the Texas Water Development Board;
                     (F)  the San Antonio Water System;
                     (G)  the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority;
                     (H)  the San Antonio River Authority;
                     (I)  the South Central Texas Water Advisory
  Committee;
                     (J)  Bexar County;
                     (K)  CPS Energy; and
                     (L)  Bexar Metropolitan Water District or its
  successor; and
               (2)  nine other persons who respectively must be:
                     (A)  a representative of a holder of an initial
  regular permit issued to a retail public utility located west of
  Bexar County, to be appointed by the authority;
                     (B)  a representative of a holder of an initial
  regular permit issued by the authority for industrial purposes, to
  be appointed by the authority;
                     (C)  a representative of a holder of an industrial
  surface water right in the Guadalupe River Basin, to be appointed by
  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
                     (D)  a representative of a holder of a municipal
  surface water right in the Guadalupe River Basin, to be appointed by
  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
                     (E)  a representative of a retail public utility
  in whose service area the Comal Springs or San Marcos Springs is
  located;
                     (F)  a representative of a holder of an initial
  regular permit issued by the authority for irrigation, to be
  appointed by the commissioner of agriculture;
                     (G)  a representative of an agricultural producer
  from the Edwards Aquifer region, to be appointed by the
  commissioner of agriculture;
                     (H)  a representative of environmental interests
  from the Texas Living Waters Project, to be appointed by the
  governing body of that project; and
                     (I)  a representative of recreational interests
  in the Guadalupe River Basin, to be appointed by the Parks and
  Wildlife Commission.
         (f)  The steering committee shall work with Texas A&M
  University to:
               (1)  establish a regular meeting schedule and publish
  that schedule to encourage public participation; and
               (2)  not later than October 31, 2007, hire a program
  director to be housed at Texas A&M University.
         (g)  Texas A&M University may accept outside funding to pay
  the salary and expenses of the program director hired under this
  section and any expenses associated with the university's
  participation in the creation of the steering committee or
  subcommittees established by the steering committee.
         (h)  Where reasonably practicable or as required by law, any
  meeting of the steering committee, the Edwards Aquifer area expert
  science subcommittee, or another subcommittee established by the
  steering committee must be open to the public.
         (i)  The steering committee appointed under this section
  shall appoint an Edwards Aquifer area expert science subcommittee
  not later than December 31, 2007. The expert science subcommittee
  must be composed of an odd number of not fewer than seven or more
  than 15 members who have technical expertise regarding the Edwards
  Aquifer system, the threatened and endangered species that inhabit
  that system, springflows, or the development of withdrawal
  limitations. The Bureau of Economic Geology of The University of
  Texas at Austin and the River Systems Institute at Texas State
  University shall assist the expert science subcommittee. Chapter
  2110, Government Code, does not apply to the size, composition, or
  duration of the expert science subcommittee.
         (j)  The Edwards Aquifer area expert science subcommittee
  shall, among other things, analyze species requirements in relation
  to spring discharge rates and aquifer levels as a function of
  recharge and withdrawal levels. Based on that analysis and the
  elements required to be considered by the authority under Section
  1.14 of this article, the expert science subcommittee shall,
  through a collaborative process designed to achieve consensus,
  develop recommendations for withdrawal reduction levels and stages
  for critical period management including, if appropriate,
  establishing separate and possibly different withdrawal reduction
  levels and stages for critical period management for different
  pools of the aquifer needed to maintain target spring discharge and
  aquifer levels. The expert science subcommittee shall submit its
  recommendations to the steering committee and all other
  stakeholders involved in the recovery implementation program under
  this section.
         (k)  The initial recommendations of the Edwards Aquifer area
  expert science subcommittee must be completed and submitted to the
  steering committee and other stakeholders not later than December
  31, 2008, and should include an evaluation:
               (1)  of the option of designating a separate San Marcos
  pool, of how such a designation would affect existing pools, and of
  the need for an additional well to measure the San Marcos pool, if
  designated;
               (2)  of the necessity to maintain minimum springflows,
  including a specific review of the necessity to maintain a flow to
  protect the federally threatened and endangered species; and
               (3)  as to whether adjustments in the trigger levels
  for the San Marcos Springs flow for the San Antonio pool should be
  made.
         (l)  In developing its recommendations, the Edwards Aquifer
  area expert science subcommittee shall:
               (1)  consider all reasonably available science,
  including any Edwards Aquifer-specific studies, and base its
  recommendations solely on the best science available; and
               (2)  operate on a consensus basis to the maximum extent
  possible.
         (m)  After development of the cooperative agreement, the
  steering committee, with the assistance of the Edwards Aquifer area
  expert science subcommittee and with input from the other recovery
  implementation program stakeholders, shall prepare and submit
  recommendations to the authority. The recommendations must:
               (1)  include a review of the critical period management
  plan, to occur at least once every five years;
               (2)  include specific monitoring, studies, and
  activities that take into account changed conditions and
  information that more accurately reflects the importance of
  critical period management; and
               (3)  establish a schedule for continuing the validation
  or refinement of the critical period management plan adopted by the
  authority and the strategies to achieve the program and cooperative
  agreement described by this section.
         (n)  In this subsection, "recharge facility" means a dam,
  reservoir, or other method of recharge project and associated
  facilities, structures, or works but does not include facilities
  designed to recirculate water at Comal or San Marcos Springs. The
  steering committee shall establish a recharge facility feasibility
  subcommittee to:
               (1)  assess the need for the authority or any other
  entity to own, finance, design, construct, operate, or maintain
  recharge facilities;
               (2)  formulate plans to allow the authority or any
  other entity to own, finance, design, construct, operate, or
  maintain recharge facilities;
               (3)  make recommendations to the steering committee as
  to how to calculate the amount of additional water that is made
  available for use from a recharge project including during times of
  critical period reductions;
               (4)  maximize available federal funding for the
  authority or any other entity to own, finance, design, construct,
  operate, or maintain recharge facilities; and
               (5)  evaluate the financing of recharge facilities,
  including the use of management fees or special fees to be used for
  purchasing or operating the facilities.
         (o)  The steering committee may establish other
  subcommittees as necessary, including a hydrology subcommittee, a
  community outreach and education subcommittee, and a water supply
  subcommittee.
         (p)  On execution of the memorandum of agreement described by
  Subsection (b) of this section, the steering committee described by
  Subsection (e) of this section may, by majority vote of its members,
  vote to add members to the steering committee, change the makeup of
  the committee, or dissolve the committee. If the steering
  committee is dissolved, the program director hired under Subsection
  (f) of this section shall assume the duties of the steering
  committee.
         (q)  The authority shall provide an annual report to the
  governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
  representatives not later than January 1 of each year that details:
               (1)  the status of the recovery implementation program
  development process;
               (2)  the likelihood of completion of the recovery
  implementation program and the cooperative agreement described by
  Subsection (c) of this section;
               (3)  the extent to which the recommendations of the
  Edwards Aquifer area expert science subcommittee are being
  considered and implemented by the authority;
               (4)  any other actions that need to be taken in response
  to each recommendation;
               (5)  reasons explaining why any recommendation
  received has not been implemented; and
               (6)  any other issues the authority considers of value
  for the efficient and effective completion of the program and the
  cooperative agreement under this section.
         SECTION 2.07.  Sections 1.29(b), (h), and (i), Chapter 626,
  Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, are amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The authority shall assess equitable aquifer management
  fees based on aquifer use under the water management plan to finance
  its administrative expenses and programs authorized under this
  article. Each water district governed by Chapter 36 [52], Water
  Code, that is within the authority's boundaries may contract with
  the authority to pay expenses of the authority through taxes in lieu
  of user fees to be paid by water users in the district. The contract
  must provide that the district will pay an amount equal to the
  amount that the water users in the district would have paid through
  user fees. The authority may not collect a total amount of fees and
  taxes that is more than is reasonably necessary for the
  administration of the authority.
         (h)  Fees assessed by the authority may not be used to fund
  the cost of reducing withdrawals or retiring permits or of
  judgments or claims related to withdrawals or permit retirements
  [Special fees collected under Subsection (c) or (d) of this section
  may not be used to finance a surface water supply reservoir
  project].
         (i)  The authority and other stakeholders, including state
  agencies, listed under Section 1.26A of this article shall provide
  money as necessary[, but not to exceed five percent of the money
  collected under Subsection (d) of this section,] to finance the
  activities of the steering committee and any subcommittees
  appointed by the steering committee and the program director of the
  recovery implementation program under Section 1.26A of this
  article. The authority shall provide, as necessary, up to $75,000
  annually, adjusted for changes in the consumer price index, to
  finance the South Central Texas Water Advisory Committee's
  administrative expenses and programs authorized under this
  article.
         SECTION 2.08.  Section 1.45(a), Chapter 626, Acts of the
  73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, is amended to read as
  follows:
         (a)  The authority may own, finance, design, construct,
  [build or] operate, and maintain recharge dams and associated
  facilities, structures, or works in the contributing or recharge
  area of the aquifer if the recharge is made to increase the yield of
  the aquifer, [and] the recharge project does not impair senior
  water rights or vested riparian rights, and the recharge project is
  not designed to recirculate water at Comal or San Marcos Springs.
         SECTION 2.09.  Sections 1.14(b) and (d), Section 1.21, and
  Sections 1.29(a), (c), and (d), Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, are repealed.
         SECTION 2.10.  (a)  Before January 1, 2012, a suit may not be
  instituted in a state court contesting:
               (1)  the validity or implementation of this article; or
               (2)  the groundwater withdrawal amounts recognized in
  Section 2.02 of this Act. 
         (b)  If applicable, a party that files a suit in any court
  shall be automatically removed from the steering committee
  established under Section 1.26A, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd
  Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, as added by this article.
         (c)  A suit against the Edwards Aquifer Authority may not be
  instituted or maintained by a person who owns, holds, or uses a
  surface water right and claims injury or potential injury to that
  right for any reason, including any actions taken by the Edwards
  Aquifer Authority to implement or enforce Article 1, Chapter 626,
  Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, as amended.
  This section does not apply to suits brought pursuant to Section
  1.45, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session,
  1993.
         SECTION 2.11.  The change in law made by this article applies
  only to a cause of action filed on or after the effective date of
  this article. A cause of action that is filed before the effective
  date of this article is governed by the law in effect immediately
  before the effective date of this article, and that law is continued
  in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.12.  This article takes effect immediately if this
  Act receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
  house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
  effect, this article takes effect September 1, 2007.
  ARTICLE 3. EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 3.01.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act,
  this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3 was passed by the House on March 1,
  2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting; that the House refused to concur in Senate amendments to
  H.B. No. 3 on May 25, 2007, and requested the appointment of a
  conference committee to consider the differences between the two
  houses; and that the House adopted the conference committee report
  on H.B. No. 3 on May 28, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 142,
  Nays 2, 2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays
  0; at the request of the House, the Senate appointed a conference
  committee to consider the differences between the two houses; and
  that the Senate adopted the conference committee report on H.B. No.
  3 on May 28, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor