S.B. No. 3
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the development, management, and preservation of the
  water resources of the state; providing penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
  ARTICLE 1.  ENVIRONMENTAL FLOWS
         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.  Subsection (j), Section 5.701, 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.  Subsection (a), Section 11.023, 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 (b), (c), and (e) and adding Subsections (d-1)
  through (d-6) and (f) to read as follows:
         (b)  Maintaining the biological soundness of the state's
  rivers, lakes, bays, and estuaries is of great importance to the
  public's economic health and general well-being.  The legislature
  encourages voluntary water and land stewardship to benefit the
  water in the state, as defined by Section 26.001.
         (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 amended to authorize use 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.  Subsection (b), Section 11.082, 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.  Subsection (a), Section 11.0842, 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.  Subsection (a), Section 11.0843, 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.  Subsection (b), Section 11.134, 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.  Subsection (a), Section 11.1491, 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.  Subsection (g), Section 11.329, 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.  Subsection (e), Section 11.404, 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.  Subsection (d), Section 16.059, 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.  Subsection (h), Section 26.0135, 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.  Subsection (b), Section 11.1491, 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 Act.
         (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.  WATER CONSERVATION AND PLANNING AND OTHER WATER-RELATED
  PROVISIONS
         SECTION 2.01.  Section 1.003, Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 1.003.  PUBLIC POLICY. It is the public policy of the
  state to provide for the conservation and development of the
  state's natural resources, including:
               (1)  the control, storage, preservation, and
  distribution of the state's storm and floodwaters and the waters of
  its rivers and streams for irrigation, power, and other useful
  purposes;
               (2)  the reclamation and irrigation of the state's
  arid, semiarid, and other land needing irrigation;
               (3)  the reclamation and drainage of the state's
  overflowed land and other land needing drainage;
               (4)  the conservation and development of its forest,
  water, and hydroelectric power;
               (5)  the navigation of the state's inland and coastal
  waters; [and]
               (6)  the maintenance of a proper ecological environment
  of the bays and estuaries of Texas and the health of related living
  marine resources; and
               (7)  the voluntary stewardship of public and private
  lands to benefit waters of the state.
         SECTION 2.02.  Subchapter A, Chapter 1, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 1.004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 1.004.  FINDINGS AND POLICY REGARDING LAND STEWARDSHIP.
  (a)  The legislature finds that voluntary land stewardship
  enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of this state's
  watersheds by helping to increase surface water and groundwater
  supplies, resulting in a benefit to the natural resources of this
  state and to the general public. It is therefore the policy of this
  state to encourage voluntary land stewardship as a significant
  water management tool.
         (b)  "Land stewardship," as used in this code, is the
  voluntary practice of managing land to conserve or enhance suitable
  landscapes and the ecosystem values of the land. Land stewardship
  includes land and habitat management, wildlife conservation, and
  watershed protection. Land stewardship practices include runoff
  reduction, prescribed burning, managed grazing, brush management,
  erosion management, reseeding with native plant species, riparian
  management and restoration, and spring and creek-bank protection,
  all of which benefit the water resources of this state.
         SECTION 2.03.  Subtitle A, Title 2, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Chapter 10 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 10.  WATER CONSERVATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
         Sec. 10.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Best management practices" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 11.002.
               (2)  "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.
               (3)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
               (4)  "Council" means the Water Conservation Advisory
  Council.
         Sec. 10.002.  PURPOSE.  The council is created to provide the
  governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
  representatives, legislature, board, commission, political
  subdivisions, and public with the resource of a select council with
  expertise in water conservation.
         Sec. 10.003.  CREATION AND MEMBERSHIP.  (a)  The council is
  composed of 23 members appointed by the board. The board shall
  appoint one member to represent each of the following entities or
  interest groups:
               (1)  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
               (2)  Department of Agriculture;
               (3)  Parks and Wildlife Department;
               (4)  State Soil and Water Conservation Board;
               (5)  Texas Water Development Board;
               (6)  regional water planning groups;
               (7)  federal agencies;
               (8)  municipalities;
               (9)  groundwater conservation districts;
               (10)  river authorities;
               (11)  environmental groups;
               (12)  irrigation districts;
               (13)  institutional water users;
               (14)  professional organizations focused on water
  conservation;
               (15)  higher education;
               (16)  agricultural groups;
               (17)  refining and chemical manufacturing;
               (18)  electric generation;
               (19)  mining and recovery of minerals;
               (20)  landscape irrigation and horticulture;
               (21)  water control and improvement districts;
               (22)  rural water users; and
               (23)  municipal utility districts.
         (b)  Each entity or interest group described by Subsection
  (a) may recommend one or more persons to fill the position on the
  council held by the member who represents that entity or interest
  group.  If one or more persons are recommended for a position on the
  council, the board shall appoint one of the persons recommended to
  fill the position.
         Sec. 10.004.  TERMS.  (a)  Members of the council serve
  staggered terms of six years, with seven or eight members' terms, as
  applicable, expiring August 31 of each odd-numbered year.
         (b)  The board shall fill a vacancy on the council for the
  unexpired term by appointing a person who has the same
  qualifications as required under Section 10.003 for the person who
  previously held the vacated position.
         Sec. 10.005.  PRESIDING OFFICER.  The council members shall
  select one member as the presiding officer of the council to serve
  in that capacity until the person's term as a council member
  expires.
         Sec. 10.006.  COUNCIL STAFF. On request by the council, the
  board shall provide any necessary staff to assist the council in the
  performance of its duties.
         Sec. 10.007.  PUBLIC MEETINGS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION.
  (a)  The council may hold public meetings as needed to fulfill its
  duties under this chapter.
         (b)  The council is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
  Government Code.
         Sec. 10.008.  INAPPLICABILITY OF ADVISORY COMMITTEE LAW.  
  Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the size,
  composition, or duration of the council.
         Sec. 10.009.  COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.  (a)  Members of the
  council serve without compensation but may be reimbursed by
  legislative appropriation for actual and necessary expenses
  related to the performance of council duties.
         (b)  Reimbursement under Subsection (a) is subject to the
  approval of the presiding officer of the council.
         Sec. 10.010.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNCIL.  The council
  shall:
               (1)  monitor trends in water conservation
  implementation;
               (2)  monitor new technologies for possible inclusion by
  the board as best management practices in the best management
  practices guide developed by the water conservation implementation
  task force under Chapter 109, Acts of the 78th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2003;
               (3)  monitor the effectiveness of the statewide water
  conservation public awareness program developed under Section
  16.401 and associated local involvement in implementation of the
  program;
               (4)  develop and implement a state water management
  resource library;
               (5)  develop and implement a public recognition program
  for water conservation;
               (6)  monitor the implementation of water conservation
  strategies by water users included in regional water plans; and
               (7)  monitor target and goal guidelines for water
  conservation to be considered by the board and commission.
         Sec. 10.011.  REPORT.  Not later than December 1 of each
  even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the governor,
  lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a
  report on progress made in water conservation in this state.
         Sec. 10.012.  DESIGNATION OF CERTIFIED WATER CONSERVATION
  TRAINING FACILITIES STUDY. (a)  The council shall conduct a study
  to evaluate the desirability of requiring the board to:
               (1)  designate as certified water conservation
  training facilities entities and programs that provide assistance
  to retail public utilities in developing water conservation plans
  under Section 13.146; and
               (2)  give preference to certified water conservation
  training facilities in making loans or grants for water
  conservation training and education activities.
         (b)  Not later than December 1, 2008, the council shall
  submit a written report containing the findings of the study and the
  recommendations of the council to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, and speaker of the house of representatives.
         (c)  This section expires June 1, 2009.
         SECTION 2.04.  Section 11.002, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subdivision (20) to read as follows:
               (20)  "Best management practices" means those
  voluntary efficiency measures developed by the commission and the
  board that save a quantifiable amount of water, either directly or
  indirectly, and that can be implemented within a specified time
  frame.
         SECTION 2.05.  Subdivisions (1-a), (5), and (8), Section
  13.002, Water Code, are amended to read as follows:
               (1-a)  "Landowner," "owner of a tract of land," and
  "owners of each tract of land" include multiple owners of a single
  deeded tract of land as shown on the appraisal roll of the appraisal
  district established for each county in which the property is
  located.
               (5)  "Commission" means the Texas [Natural Resource
  Conservation] Commission on Environmental Quality.
               (8)  "Executive director" means the executive director
  of the commission [Texas Natural Resource Conservation
  Commission].
         SECTION 2.06.  Subchapter E, Chapter 13, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 13.146 and 13.147 to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.146.  WATER CONSERVATION PLAN.  The commission shall
  require a retail public utility that provides potable water service
  to 3,300 or more connections to submit to the executive
  administrator of the board a water conservation plan based on
  specific targets and goals developed by the retail public utility
  and using appropriate best management practices, as defined by
  Section 11.002, or other water conservation strategies.
         Sec. 13.147.  CONSOLIDATED BILLING AND COLLECTION
  CONTRACTS. (a)  A retail public utility providing water service
  may contract with a retail public utility providing sewer service
  to bill and collect the sewer service provider's fees and payments
  as part of a consolidated process with the billing and collection of
  the water service provider's fees and payments.  The water service
  provider may provide that service only for customers who are served
  by both providers in an area covered by both providers'
  certificates of public convenience and necessity.  If the water
  service provider refuses to enter into a contract under this
  section or if the water service provider and sewer service provider
  cannot agree on the terms of a contract, the sewer service provider
  may petition the commission to issue an order requiring the water
  service provider to provide that service.
         (b)  A contract or order under this section must provide
  procedures and deadlines for submitting billing and customer
  information to the water service provider and for the delivery of
  collected fees and payments to the sewer service provider.
         (c)  A contract or order under this section may require or
  permit a water service provider that provides consolidated billing
  and collection of fees and payments to:
               (1)  terminate the water services of a person whose
  sewage services account is in arrears for nonpayment; and
               (2)  charge a customer a reconnection fee if the
  customer's water service is terminated for nonpayment of the
  customer's sewage services account.
         (d)  A water service provider that provides consolidated
  billing and collection of fees and payments may impose on each sewer
  service provider customer a reasonable fee to recover costs
  associated with providing consolidated billing and collection of
  fees and payments for sewage services.
         SECTION 2.07.  Subchapter F, Chapter 13, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 13.188 to read as follows:
         Sec. 13.188.  ADJUSTMENT FOR CHANGE IN ENERGY COSTS.  
  (a)  Notwithstanding any other provision in this chapter, the
  commission by rule shall adopt a procedure allowing a utility to
  file with the commission an application to timely adjust the
  utility's rates to reflect an increase or decrease in documented
  energy costs in a pass through clause.  The commission, by rule,
  shall require the pass through of documented decreases in energy
  costs within a reasonable time.  The pass through, whether a
  decrease or increase, shall be implemented on no later than an
  annual basis, unless the commission determines a special
  circumstance applies.
         (b)  Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary,
  this adjustment is an uncontested matter not subject to a contested
  case hearing.  However, the executive director shall hold an
  uncontested public meeting:
               (1)  on the request of a member of the legislature who
  represents the area served by the water and sewer utility; or
               (2)  if the executive director determines that there is
  substantial public interest in the matter.
         (c)  A proceeding under this section is not a rate case and
  Section 13.187 does not apply.
         SECTION 2.08.  Section 13.2451, Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 13.2451.  EXTENSION BEYOND EXTRATERRITORIAL
  JURISDICTION.  (a)  If [Except as provided by Subsection (b), if] a
  municipality extends its extraterritorial jurisdiction to include
  an area certificated to a retail public utility, the retail public
  utility may continue and extend service in its area of public
  convenience and necessity under the rights granted by its
  certificate and this chapter.
         (b)  A municipality that seeks to extend a certificate of
  public convenience and necessity beyond the municipality's
  extraterritorial jurisdiction must ensure that the municipality
  complies with Section 13.241 in relation to the area covered by the
  portion of the certificate that extends beyond the municipality's
  extraterritorial jurisdiction.
         (c)  The commission, after notice to the municipality and an
  opportunity for a hearing, may decertify an area outside a
  municipality's extraterritorial jurisdiction if the municipality
  does not provide service to the area on or before the fifth
  anniversary of the date the certificate of public convenience and
  necessity was granted for the area.  This subsection does not apply
  to a certificate of public convenience and necessity for an area:
               (1)  that was transferred to a municipality on approval
  of the commission; and
               (2)  in relation to which the municipality has spent
  public funds.
         (d)  To the extent of a conflict between this section and
  Section 13.245, Section 13.245 prevails [The commission may not
  extend a municipality's certificate of public convenience and
  necessity beyond its extraterritorial jurisdiction without the
  written consent of the landowner who owns the property in which the
  certificate is to be extended. The portion of any certificate of
  public convenience and necessity that extends beyond the
  extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality without the
  consent of the landowner is void].
         SECTION 2.09.  Subsection (a-1), Section 13.246, Water Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, in
  addition to the notice required by Subsection (a), the commission
  shall require notice to be mailed to each owner of a tract of land
  that is at least 25 [50] acres and is wholly or partially included
  in the area proposed to be certified. Notice required under this
  subsection must be mailed by first class mail to the owner of the
  tract according to the most current tax appraisal rolls of the
  applicable central appraisal district at the time the commission
  received the application for the certificate or amendment. Good
  faith efforts to comply with the requirements of this subsection
  shall be considered adequate notice to landowners. Notice under
  this subsection is not required for a matter filed with the
  commission under:
               (1)  Section 13.248 or 13.255; or
               (2)  Chapter 65.
         SECTION 2.10.  Subsection (b), Section 15.102, Water Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The loan fund may also be used by the board to provide:
               (1)  grants or loans for projects that include
  supplying water and wastewater services in economically distressed
  areas or nonborder colonias as provided by legislative
  appropriations, this chapter, and board rules, including projects
  involving retail distribution of those services; and
               (2)  grants for:
                     (A)  projects for which federal grant funds are
  placed in the loan fund;
                     (B)  projects, on specific legislative
  appropriation for those projects; or
                     (C)  water conservation, desalination, brush
  control, weather modification, regionalization, and projects
  providing regional water quality enhancement services as defined by
  board rule, including regional conveyance systems.
         SECTION 2.11.  Subchapter Q, Chapter 15, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 15.9751 to read as follows:
         Sec. 15.9751.  PRIORITY FOR WATER CONSERVATION.  The board
  shall give priority to applications for funds for the
  implementation of water supply projects in the state water plan by
  entities that:
               (1)  have already demonstrated significant water
  conservation savings; or
               (2)  will achieve significant water conservation
  savings by implementing the proposed project for which the
  financial assistance is sought.
         SECTION 2.12.  Section 16.017, Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 16.017.  TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC MAPPING.  (a)  The
  executive administrator shall carry out the program for topographic
  and geologic mapping of the state.
         (b)  The executive administrator shall operate as part of the
  Texas Natural Resources Information System a strategic mapping
  program to acquire, store, and distribute digital, geospatial
  information.
         SECTION 2.13.  Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 16.023 and 16.024 to read as follows:
         Sec. 16.023.  STRATEGIC MAPPING ACCOUNT. (a)  The strategic
  mapping account is an account in the general revenue fund.  The
  account consists of:
               (1)  money directly appropriated to the board;
               (2)  money transferred by the board from other funds
  available to the board;
               (3)  money from gifts or grants from the United States
  government, state, regional, or local governments, educational
  institutions, private sources, or other sources;
               (4)  proceeds from the sale of maps, data,
  publications, and other items; and
               (5)  interest earned on the investment of money in the
  account and depository interest allocable to the account.
         (b)  The account may be appropriated only to the board to:
               (1)  develop, administer, and implement the strategic
  mapping program;
               (2)  provide grants to political subdivisions for
  projects related to the development, use, and dissemination of
  digital, geospatial information; and
               (3)  administer, implement, and operate other programs
  of the Texas Natural Resources Information System, including:
                     (A)  the operation of a Texas-Mexico border region
  information center for the purpose of implementing Section 16.021
  (e)(5);
                     (B)  the acquisition, storage, and distribution
  of historical maps, photographs, and paper map products;
                     (C)  the maintenance and enhancement of
  information technology; and
                     (D)  the production, storage, and distribution of
  other digital base maps, as determined by the executive
  administrator or a state agency that is a member of the Texas
  Geographic Information Council.
         (c)  The board may invest, reinvest, and direct the
  investment of any available money in the fund as provided by law for
  the investment of money under Section 404.024, Government Code.
         Sec. 16.024.  FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIGITAL, GEOSPATIAL
  INFORMATION PROJECTS. (a)  A political subdivision seeking a grant
  under Section 16.023 must file an application with the board.
         (b)  An application must be filed in the manner and form
  required by board rules.
         (c)  In reviewing an application by a political subdivision
  for a grant, the board shall consider:
               (1)  the degree to which the political subdivision has
  used other available resources to finance the development, use, and
  dissemination of digital, geospatial information;
               (2)  the willingness and ability of the political
  subdivision to develop, use, and disseminate digital, geospatial
  information; and
               (3)  the benefits that will be gained by making the
  grant.
         (d)  The board may approve a grant to a political subdivision
  only if the board finds that:
               (1)  the grant will supplement rather than replace
  money of the political subdivision;
               (2)  the public interest is served by providing the
  grant; and
               (3)  the grant will further the state's ability to
  gather, develop, use, and disseminate digital, geospatial
  information.
         SECTION 2.14.  Subsection (h), Section 16.053, Water Code,
  is amended by adding Subdivisions (10) and (11) to read as follows:
               (10)  The regional water planning group may amend the
  regional water plan after the plan has been approved by the board.
  Subdivisions (1)-(9) apply to an amendment to the plan in the same
  manner as those subdivisions apply to the plan.
               (11)  This subdivision applies only to an amendment to
  a regional water plan approved by the board.  This subdivision does
  not apply to the adoption of a subsequent regional water plan for
  submission to the board as required by Subsection (i).
  Notwithstanding Subdivision (10), the regional water planning
  group may amend the plan in the manner provided by this subdivision
  if the executive administrator makes a written determination that
  the proposed amendment qualifies for adoption in the manner
  provided by this subdivision before the regional water planning
  group votes on adoption of the amendment. A proposed amendment
  qualifies for adoption in the manner provided by this subdivision
  only if the amendment is a minor amendment, as defined by board
  rules, that will not result in the overallocation of any existing or
  planned source of water, does not relate to a new reservoir, and
  will not have a significant effect on instream flows or freshwater
  inflows to bays and estuaries. If the executive administrator
  determines that a proposed amendment qualifies for adoption in the
  manner provided by this subdivision, the regional water planning
  group may adopt the amendment at a public meeting held in accordance
  with Chapter 551, Government Code. The proposed amendment must be
  placed on the agenda for the meeting, and notice of the meeting must
  be given in the manner provided by Chapter 551, Government Code, at
  least two weeks before the date the meeting is held. The public
  must be provided an opportunity to comment on the proposed
  amendment at the meeting.
         SECTION 2.15.  Subsection (r), Section 16.053, Water Code,
  as added by Chapter 1097, Acts of the 79th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2005, is amended to read as follows:
         (r)  The board by rule shall provide for reasonable
  flexibility to allow for a timely amendment of a regional water
  plan, the board's approval of an amended regional water plan, and
  the amendment of the state water plan.  If an amendment under this
  subsection is[,] to facilitate planning for water supplies
  reasonably required for a clean coal project, as defined by Section
  5.001, the[.  The] rules may allow for amending a regional water
  plan without providing notice and without a public meeting or
  hearing under Subsection (h) if the amendment does not:
               (1)  significantly change the regional water plan, as
  reasonably determined by the board; or
               (2)  adversely affect other water management
  strategies in the regional water plan.
         SECTION 2.16.  Subchapter E, Chapter 16, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 16.1311 to read as follows:
         Sec. 16.1311.  PRIORITY FOR WATER CONSERVATION.  The board
  shall give priority to applications for funds for implementation of
  water supply projects in the state water plan by entities that:
               (1)  have already demonstrated significant water
  conservation savings; or
               (2)  will achieve significant water conservation
  savings by implementing the proposed project for which the
  financial assistance is sought.
         SECTION 2.17.  Sections 16.315 and 16.319, Water Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 16.315.  POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS; COMPLIANCE WITH
  FEDERAL REQUIREMENTS. All political subdivisions are hereby
  authorized to take all necessary and reasonable actions that are
  not less stringent than [to comply with] the requirements and
  criteria of the National Flood Insurance Program, including but not
  limited to:
               (1)  making appropriate land use adjustments to
  constrict the development of land which is exposed to flood damage
  and minimize damage caused by flood losses;
               (2)  guiding the development of proposed future
  construction, where practicable, away from a location which is
  threatened by flood hazards;
               (3)  assisting in minimizing damage caused by floods;
               (4)  authorizing and engaging in continuing studies of
  flood hazards in order to facilitate a constant reappraisal of the
  flood insurance program and its effect on land use requirements;
               (5)  engaging in floodplain management, [and] adopting
  and enforcing permanent land use and control measures that are not
  less stringent than those [consistent with the criteria]
  established under the National Flood Insurance Act, and providing
  for the imposition of penalties on landowners who violate this
  subchapter or rules adopted or orders issued under this subchapter;
               (6)  declaring property, when such is the case, to be in
  violation of local laws, regulations, or ordinances which are
  intended to discourage or otherwise restrict land development or
  occupancy in flood-prone areas and notifying the director, or
  whomever the director designates, of such property;
               (7)  consulting with, giving information to, and
  entering into agreements with the Federal Emergency Management
  Agency for the purpose of:
                     (A)  identifying and publishing information with
  respect to all flood areas, including coastal areas; and
                     (B)  establishing flood-risk zones in all such
  areas and making estimates with respect to the rates of probable
  flood-caused loss for the various flood-risk zones for each of
  these areas;
               (8)  cooperating with the director's studies and
  investigations with respect to the adequacy of local measures in
  flood-prone areas as to land management and use, flood control,
  flood zoning, and flood damage prevention;
               (9)  taking steps, using regional, watershed, and
  multi-objective approaches, to improve the long-range management
  and use of flood-prone areas;
               (10)  purchasing, leasing, and receiving property from
  the director when such property is owned by the federal government
  and lies within the boundaries of the political subdivision
  pursuant to agreements with the Federal Emergency Management Agency
  or other appropriate legal representative of the United States
  Government;
               (11)  requesting aid pursuant to the entire
  authorization from the commission;
               (12)  satisfying criteria adopted and promulgated by
  the commission pursuant to the National Flood Insurance Program;
               (13)  adopting permanent land use and control measures
  with enforcement provisions that are not less stringent than [which
  are consistent with] the criteria for land management and use
  adopted by the director;
               (14)  adopting more comprehensive floodplain
  management rules that the political subdivision determines are
  necessary for planning and appropriate to protect public health and
  safety;
               (15)  participating in floodplain management and
  mitigation initiatives such as the National Flood Insurance
  Program's Community Rating System, Project Impact, or other
  initiatives developed by federal, state, or local government; and
               (16)  collecting reasonable fees to cover the cost of
  administering a local floodplain management program.
         Sec. 16.319.  QUALIFICATION. Political subdivisions
  wishing to qualify under the National Flood Insurance Program shall
  have the authority to do so by complying with the directions of the
  Federal Emergency Management Agency and by:
               (1)  evidencing to the director a positive interest in
  securing flood insurance coverage under the National Flood
  Insurance Program; and
               (2)  giving to the director satisfactory assurance that
  measures will have been adopted for the political subdivision that
  [which measures] will be not less stringent than [consistent with]
  the comprehensive criteria for land management and use developed by
  the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
         SECTION 2.18.  Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter K to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. WATER CONSERVATION
         Sec. 16.401.  STATEWIDE WATER CONSERVATION PUBLIC AWARENESS
  PROGRAM.  (a)  The executive administrator shall develop and
  implement a statewide water conservation public awareness program
  to educate residents of this state about water conservation. The
  program shall take into account the differences in water
  conservation needs of various geographic regions of the state and
  shall be designed to complement and support existing local and
  regional water conservation programs.
         (b)  The executive administrator is required to develop and
  implement the program required by Subsection (a) in a state fiscal
  biennium only if the legislature appropriates sufficient money in
  that biennium specifically for that purpose.
         Sec. 16.402.  WATER CONSERVATION PLAN REVIEW. (a)  Each
  entity that is required to submit a water conservation plan to the
  commission under this code shall submit a copy of the plan to the
  executive administrator.
         (b)  Each entity that is required to submit a water
  conservation plan to the executive administrator, board, or
  commission under this code shall report annually to the executive
  administrator on the entity's progress in implementing the plan.
         (c)  The executive administrator shall review each water
  conservation plan and annual report to determine compliance with
  the minimum requirements established by Section 11.1271 and the
  submission deadlines developed under Subsection (e) of this
  section.
         (d)  The board may notify the commission if the board
  determines that an entity has violated this section or a rule
  adopted under this section.  Notwithstanding Section 7.051(b), a
  violation of this section or of a rule adopted under this section is
  enforceable in the manner provided by Chapter 7 for a violation of a
  provision of this code within the commission's jurisdiction or of a
  rule adopted by the commission under a provision of this code within
  the commission's jurisdiction.
         (e)  The board and commission jointly shall adopt rules:
               (1)  identifying the minimum requirements and
  submission deadlines for the annual reports required by Subsection
  (b); and
               (2)  providing for the enforcement of this section and
  rules adopted under this section.
         SECTION 2.19.  Section 17.125, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (b-2) to read as follows:
         (b-2)  The board shall give priority to applications for
  funds for implementation of water supply projects in the state
  water plan by entities that:
               (1)  have already demonstrated significant water
  conservation savings; or
               (2)  will achieve significant water conservation
  savings by implementing the proposed project for which the
  financial assistance is sought.
         SECTION 2.20.  Chapter 35, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Section 35.020 to read as follows:
         Sec. 35.020.  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN GROUNDWATER
  MANAGEMENT PROCESS.  It is the policy of the state to encourage
  public participation in the groundwater management process in areas
  within a groundwater management area not represented by a
  groundwater conservation district.
         SECTION 2.21.  Subsection (d), Section 36.113, Water Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (d)  Before granting or denying a permit or permit amendment,
  the district shall consider whether:
               (1)  the application conforms to the requirements
  prescribed by this chapter and is accompanied by the prescribed
  fees;
               (2)  the proposed use of water unreasonably affects
  existing groundwater and surface water resources or existing permit
  holders;
               (3)  the proposed use of water is dedicated to any
  beneficial use;
               (4)  the proposed use of water is consistent with the
  district's certified water management plan;
               (5)  if the well will be located in the Hill Country
  Priority Groundwater Management Area, the proposed use of water
  from the well is wholly or partly to provide water to a pond, lake,
  or reservoir to enhance the appearance of the landscape;
               (6)  the applicant has agreed to avoid waste and
  achieve water conservation; and
               (7) [(6)]  the applicant has agreed that reasonable
  diligence will be used to protect groundwater quality and that the
  applicant will follow well plugging guidelines at the time of well
  closure.
         SECTION 2.22.  Subsection (d), Section 36.117, Water Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         (d)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a district may require
  a well to be permitted by the district and to comply with all
  district rules if:
               (1)  the withdrawals from a well in the Hill Country
  Priority Groundwater Management Area and exempted under Subsection
  (b)(1) are no longer used solely for domestic use or to provide
  water for livestock or poultry;
               (2)  the purpose of a well exempted under Subsection
  (b)(2) is no longer solely to supply water for a rig that is
  actively engaged in drilling or exploration operations for an oil
  or gas well permitted by the Railroad Commission of Texas; or
               (3) [(2)]  the withdrawals from a well exempted under
  Subsection (b)(3) are no longer necessary for mining activities or
  are greater than the amount necessary for mining activities
  specified in the permit issued by the Railroad Commission of Texas
  under Chapter 134, Natural Resources Code.
         SECTION 2.23.  Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 49.2205 to read as follows:
         Sec. 49.2205.  USE OF RIGHT-OF-WAY EASEMENTS FOR CERTAIN
  ENERGY-RELATED PURPOSES. (a)  To foster the generation and
  transmission of electricity from clean coal projects, as defined by
  Section 5.001, renewable energy technology projects, and the
  capture and storage of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, a
  district or water supply corporation may allow others to construct,
  maintain, and operate transmission lines and pipelines over, under,
  across, on, or along rights-of-way and easements of the district or
  water supply corporation for transmission of electricity generated
  by those projects and the transportation of carbon dioxide and
  other greenhouse gases, unless the use:
               (1)  is incompatible with the public use for which the
  easement was acquired or condemned; or
               (2)  compromises public health or safety.
         (b)  The district or water supply corporation is not required
  to obtain additional consideration for the construction,
  maintenance, and operation of the transmission lines and pipelines
  under this section if the person constructing, maintaining, and
  operating the transmission lines and pipelines bears all costs of
  the construction, maintenance, and operation of the transmission
  lines and pipelines and restoring the property. The activities
  authorized by this subsection may be exercised only with the
  consent of and subject to the direction of the governing body of the
  district or water supply corporation.
         (c)  A person that is subject to Subsection (a) that acquires
  a right-of-way easement on real property for a public use may
  include in the notice of the acquisition a statement that to foster
  the generation and transmission of electricity from clean coal
  projects as defined by Section 5.001, Water Code, renewable energy
  technology projects, and the capture and storage of carbon dioxide
  and other greenhouse gases, water districts and water supply
  corporations may allow others to construct, maintain, and operate
  transmission lines and pipelines over, under, across, on, or along
  the rights-of-way and easements for the transmission of electricity
  that is generated by those projects and transportation of carbon
  dioxide and other greenhouse gases, unless the use:
               (1)  is incompatible with the public use for which the
  easement was acquired or condemned; or
               (2)  compromises public health or safety.
         (d)  This section applies only to a right-of-way or easement
  acquired by the district or water supply corporation on or after
  September 1, 2007.
         (e)  This section does not apply to a right-of-way or
  easement that is used for the transmission of electricity without
  the consent of a person owning the transmission lines if that use
  began before September 1, 2007.
         SECTION 2.24.  Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter O to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER O.  EFFECT OF SUBDIVISION OF NONAGRICULTURAL LAND ON
  WATER RIGHTS
         Sec. 49.501.  DEFINITION.  In this subchapter, "municipal
  water supplier" means a municipality or a water supply corporation.
         Sec. 49.502.  APPLICABILITY.  This subchapter applies only
  to a district, other than a drainage district, located wholly or
  partly in a county:
               (1)  that borders the Gulf of Mexico and the United
  Mexican States; or
               (2)  that is adjacent to a county described by
  Subdivision (1).
         Sec. 49.503.  PETITION BY MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIER TO
  CONVERT WATER USE AFTER SUBDIVISION.  (a)  This section applies
  only to land:
               (1)  that is:
                     (A)  subdivided into town lots or blocks or small
  parcels of the same general nature as town lots or blocks;
                     (B)  designed, intended, or suitable for
  residential or other nonagricultural purposes, including streets,
  alleys, parkways, parks, detention or retention ponds, and railroad
  property and rights-of-way; or
                     (C)  in a subdivision created to meet the
  requirements of a governmental entity authorized to require a
  recorded plat of subdivided lands;
               (2)  that is in a subdivision for which a plat or map
  has been filed and recorded in the office of the county clerk of
  each county in which the subdivision is wholly or partly located;
  and
               (3)  that is or was assessed as flat rate irrigable
  property in the municipal water supplier's certificated service
  area or its corporate area.
         (b)  A municipal water supplier that serves land described by
  Subsection (a) may petition the district in accordance with this
  section to convert the proportionate irrigation water right to the
  Rio Grande from irrigation use to municipal use with municipal
  priority of allocation under commission rules, for the use and
  benefit of the municipal water supplier.
         (c)  The municipal water supplier must file the petition with
  the district not later than January 1 after the expiration of two
  years after the date the plat or map was recorded under Subsection
  (a).  The district shall consider the petition not later than
  January 31 of the year following the year in which the petition was
  filed.
         (d)  The petition must identify by subdivision name or other
  sufficient description the land that the municipal water supplier
  supplies or has the right to supply potable water.
         (e)  This section applies only to one subdivision of the land
  recorded under Subsection (a).  This section does not apply to any
  further subdivision of the same property.
         Sec. 49.504.  EFFECT OF MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLIER'S FAILURE
  TO FILE A PETITION.  (a)  If a municipal water supplier does not
  file a petition under Section 49.503, the district may retain the
  water rights for use by the district or may declare the water as
  excess and contract for the sale or use of the water as determined
  by the district.
         (b)  Before a district may contract for the sale or use of
  water for more than one year with a purchaser located outside of a
  county described by Section 49.502, the district must, for 90 days:
               (1)  make the water available under the same terms to
  all municipal water suppliers located in those counties; and
               (2)  advertise the offer to sell or contract for the use
  of the water by posting notice on:
                     (A)  any website of the Rio Grande Watermaster's
  Office;
                     (B)  any website of the Rio Grande Regional Water
  Authority; and
                     (C)  the official posting place for the district's
  board meetings at the district's office.
         (c)  If, after the 90th day after the last date on which the
  district posted notice, a municipal water supplier in a county
  described by Section 49.502 has not contracted with the district
  for the sale or use of the water, the district may contract with any
  other person for the sale or use of the water under the terms of the
  offer advertised under Subsection (b).
         Sec. 49.505.  CALCULATION OF PROPORTIONATE WATER RIGHTS.  A
  district that receives a petition under Section 49.503 shall
  compute the proportionate amount of water rights to the Rio Grande.  
  The proportionate amount of water rights is equal to the amount of
  irrigable acres of land in the subdivision multiplied by the lesser
  of:
               (1)  1.25 acre-feet per irrigable acre; or
               (2)  the sum of all irrigation water rights owned by the
  district on September 1, 2007, as if the water rights had been
  converted to municipal use under applicable commission rules,
  divided by the total amount of irrigable acres of land in the
  district on September 1, 2007.
         Sec. 49.506.  PROVISION OR CONVERSION OF PROPORTIONATE WATER
  RIGHTS BY DISTRICT.  (a)  Not later than the second anniversary of
  the date the municipal water supplier files a petition under
  Section 49.503:
               (1)  a district shall provide the municipal water
  supplier with the proportionate water rights described by Section
  49.505 from the district's existing water rights; or
               (2)  a district shall, if the district does not have
  sufficient existing water rights:
                     (A)  apply for appropriate amendments to the
  district's water rights under commission rules to convert the
  proportionate water rights from irrigation use to municipal use
  with municipal priority of allocation; and
                     (B)  provide to the municipal water supplier the
  converted rights described by Section 49.505.
         (b)  The district may continue to use the irrigation use
  water for district purposes until:
               (1)  the commission approves the amendment to the
  district's water rights; or
               (2)  the water is otherwise provided to the municipal
  water supplier.
         (c)  A district that applies for appropriate amendments
  under Subsection (a)(2) shall provide the municipal water supplier
  with an estimate of the district's reasonable costs for the
  administrative proceedings.  The district is not required to begin
  the proceedings until the municipal water supplier deposits the
  amount of the estimate with the district.  The municipal water
  supplier shall pay the district any reasonable costs that exceed
  the estimate.  The district shall refund the balance of the deposit
  if the actual cost is less than the estimate.
         Sec. 49.507.  CONTRACT TO PURCHASE PROPORTIONATE WATER
  RIGHTS; WATER RIGHTS SALE CONTRACT.  (a)  A municipal water
  supplier may contract to purchase the proportionate water rights
  described by Section 49.505.
         (b)  The purchase price may not exceed 68 percent of the
  current market value, as determined under Section 49.509, for the
  year that the municipal water supplier petitions the district.
         (c)  The contract must be in writing in a document entitled
  "Water Rights Sales Contract."
         (d)  The contract must include the purchase price for the
  water rights or, if the consideration for the sale is not monetary,
  the terms of the sale.
         (e)  The municipal water supplier shall file the contract
  with the Rio Grande watermaster not later than the 10th day after
  the date the contract is executed.
         (f)  The municipal water supplier shall pay the purchase
  price when the proportionate amount of water rights is made
  available to the municipal water supplier.
         Sec. 49.508.  CONTRACT TO USE PROPORTIONATE WATER RIGHTS;
  WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT.  (a)  A municipal water supplier may
  contract to use water associated with the proportionate water
  rights described by Section 49.505.
         (b)  The contract must be for at least 40 years.
         (c)  The price for the contractual right to use the municipal
  use water is based on an amount for one acre-foot of municipal use
  water with a municipal use priority of allocation and may not exceed
  the sum of:
               (1)  an amount equal to the district's annual flat rate
  charge per assessed acre; and
               (2)  the equivalent of the charge for four irrigations
  per flat rate acre of irrigable property in the district.
         (d)  The parties to the contract shall agree on the terms of
  payment of the contract price.
         (e)  The board periodically shall determine the flat rate
  charge and irrigation per acre charge described by Subsection (c).
         (f)  The contract must be in writing in a document entitled
  "Water Supply Contract."  The contract may contain any terms to
  which the parties agree.
         (g)  The municipal water supplier shall file the contract
  with the Rio Grande watermaster not later than the 10th day after
  the date the contract is executed.
         Sec. 49.509.  DUTY OF RIO GRANDE REGIONAL WATER AUTHORITY TO
  CALCULATE CURRENT MARKET VALUE.  (a)  The Rio Grande Regional Water
  Authority annually at its January meeting shall calculate the
  current market value by using the average price per acre-foot of
  municipal use water after conversion from irrigation use water to
  municipal use water with a municipal priority of allocation under
  commission rules of the last three purchases involving:
               (1)  a municipal water supplier;
               (2)  a party other than a municipal water supplier; and
               (3)  at least 100 acre-feet of municipal use water,
  with municipal priority of allocation.
         (b)  The Rio Grande Regional Water Authority shall use
  information from the water rights sales contracts reported to the
  Rio Grande Watermaster's Office to calculate the current market
  value.
         (c)  The Rio Grande Regional Water Authority shall make the
  calculation:
               (1)  without charging any of the parties involved; and
               (2)  using 100 percent of the value of monetary
  exchanges, not in-kind exchanges.
         Sec. 49.510.  ACCOUNTING FOR SALE OF WATER RIGHTS.  A
  district shall maintain an accounting of money received from the
  sale of water rights under this subchapter.
         Sec. 49.511.  CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS.  A district shall
  designate at least 75 percent of the proceeds from the sale of water
  rights for capital improvements in the district.
         Sec. 49.512.  MAP OF SERVICE AREA.  (a)  In this section,
  "outer boundaries of a district" means district boundaries without
  considering any exclusion of land from inside the district.
         (b)  Each municipal water supplier that has a certificate of
  convenience and necessity service area in the outer boundaries of a
  district shall file a map of the service area with the district.
         (c)  The municipal water supplier shall update the map and
  forward the map to the district when changes are made.
         (d)  A district periodically shall provide to a municipal
  water supplier that serves territory in the district a copy of the
  district's map showing the outer boundaries of the district.
         (e)  A district may request from a municipal water supplier a
  map of the municipal water supplier's service area, and a municipal
  water supplier may request from the district a map of the district's
  outer boundaries.  On request, the district and a municipal water
  supplier shall provide the map free of charge to each other at least
  one time each year.  If the district or municipal water supplier
  receives more than one request a year for a map, the district or
  municipal water supplier may charge a reasonable fee for the map.
         SECTION 2.25.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.969 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.969.  ON-SITE RECLAIMED SYSTEM TECHNOLOGIES
  CURRICULUM. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
  encourage each institution of higher education to develop
  curriculum and provide related instruction regarding on-site
  reclaimed system technologies, including rainwater harvesting,
  condensate collection, or cooling tower blow down.
         SECTION 2.26.  Chapter 68, Education Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter B to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER B.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF BOARD
         Sec. 68.21.  SUSTAINABLE WATER SUPPLY RESEARCH CENTER.  
  (a)  In this section, "center" means the Sustainable Water Supply
  Research Center.
         (b)  The board may establish and operate the Sustainable
  Water Supply Research Center as part of The University of Texas at
  Arlington.
         (c)  If established, the center shall:
               (1)  conduct, sponsor, or direct multidisciplinary
  research directed toward:
                     (A)  promoting water conservation through
  development of a sustainable water supply for this state; and
                     (B)  mitigating the effect of diminishing water
  supplies on the economy and people of this state; and
               (2)  conduct a comprehensive, interdisciplinary
  instructional program in water conservation with emphasis on
  development of a sustainable water supply at the graduate level and
  offer undergraduate courses for students interested in water
  conservation and sustainable water supply development.
         (d)  The organization, control, and management of the center
  are vested in the board.
         (e)  The center may enter into an agreement or may cooperate
  with a public or private entity to perform the research functions of
  the center.
         (f)  The board may solicit, accept, and administer gifts and
  grants from any public or private source for the use and benefit of
  the center.
         SECTION 2.27.  Section 447.004, Government Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:
         (c-1)  The procedural standards adopted under this section
  must require that on-site reclaimed system technologies, including
  rainwater harvesting, condensate collection, or cooling tower blow
  down, or a combination of those system technologies, for nonpotable
  indoor use and landscape watering be incorporated into the design
  and construction of:
               (1)  each new state building with a roof measuring at
  least 10,000 square feet; and
               (2)  any other new state building for which the
  incorporation of such systems is feasible.
         SECTION 2.28.  Section 341.042, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 341.042.  STANDARDS FOR HARVESTED RAINWATER.  (a)  The
  commission shall establish recommended standards relating to the
  domestic use of harvested rainwater, including health and safety
  standards for treatment and collection methods for harvested
  rainwater intended for drinking, cooking, or bathing.
         (b)  The commission by rule shall provide that if a structure
  is connected to a public water supply system and has a rainwater
  harvesting system for indoor use:
               (1)  the structure must have appropriate
  cross-connection safeguards; and
               (2)  the rainwater harvesting system may be used only
  for nonpotable indoor purposes.
         (c)  Standards and rules adopted by the commission under this
  chapter governing public drinking water supply systems do not apply
  to a person:
               (1)  who harvests rainwater for domestic use; and
               (2)  whose property is not connected to a public
  drinking water supply system.
         SECTION 2.29.  Subsection (b), Section 212.0101, Local
  Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The Texas [Natural Resource Conservation] Commission on
  Environmental Quality by rule shall establish the appropriate form
  and content of a certification to be attached to a plat application
  under this section.
         SECTION 2.30.  Subsection (b), Section 232.0032, Local
  Government Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (b)  The Texas [Natural Resource Conservation] Commission on
  Environmental Quality by rule shall establish the appropriate form
  and content of a certification to be attached to a plat application
  under this section.
         SECTION 2.31.  Chapter 401, Local Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 401.006 to read as follows:
         Sec. 401.006.  WATER CONSERVATION BY HOME-RULE
  MUNICIPALITY. A home-rule municipality may adopt and enforce
  ordinances requiring water conservation in the municipality and by
  customers of the municipality's municipally owned water and sewer
  utility in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality.
         SECTION 2.32.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 402, Local Government
  Code, is amended by adding Section 402.911 to read as follows:
         Sec. 402.911.  DUTIES OF WATER SERVICE PROVIDER TO AN AREA
  SERVED BY SEWER SERVICE OF CERTAIN POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.  
  (a)  This section applies only to an area:
               (1)  that is located in a county that has a population
  of more than 1.3 million; and
               (2)  in which a customer's sewer service is provided by
  a municipality or conservation and reclamation district that also
  provides water service to other customers and the same customer's
  water service is provided by another entity.
         (b)  For each person the water service provider serves in an
  area to which this section applies, the water service provider
  shall provide the municipality or district with any relevant
  customer information so that the municipality or district may bill
  users of the sewer service directly and verify the water
  consumption of users.  Relevant customer information provided under
  this section includes the name, address, and telephone number of
  the customer of the water service provider, the monthly meter
  readings of the customer, monthly consumption information,
  including any billing adjustments, and certain meter information,
  such as brand, model, age, and location.
         (c)  The municipality or district shall reimburse the water
  service provider for its reasonable and actual incremental costs
  for providing services to the municipality or district under this
  section.  Incremental costs are limited to only those costs that are
  in addition to the water service provider's costs in providing its
  services to its customers, and those costs must be consistent with
  the costs incurred by other water utility providers.  Only if
  requested by the wastewater provider, the water service provider
  must provide the municipality or district with documentation
  certified by a certified public accountant of the reasonable and
  actual incremental costs for providing services to the municipality
  or district under this section.
         (d)  A municipality or conservation and reclamation district
  may provide written notice to a person to whom the municipality's or
  district's sewer service system provides service if the person has
  failed to pay for the service for more than 90 days.  The notice must
  state the past due amount owed and the deadline by which the past
  due amount must be paid or the person will lose water service.  The
  notice may be sent by mail or hand-delivered to the location at
  which the sewer service is provided.
         (e)  The municipality or district may notify the water
  service provider of a person who fails to make timely payment after
  the person receives notice under Subsection (d).  The notice must
  indicate the number of days the person has failed to pay for sewer
  service and the total amount past due.  On receipt of the notice,
  the water service provider shall discontinue water service to the
  person.
         (f)  This section does not apply to a nonprofit water supply
  or sewer service corporation created under Chapter 67, Water Code,
  or a district created under Chapter 65, Water Code.
         SECTION 2.33.  Section 430.003, Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 430.003.  EXEMPTIONS OF CERTAIN [STATE] PROPERTY FROM
  INFRASTRUCTURE FEES.  No county, municipality, or utility district
  may collect from a state agency or a public or private institution
  of higher education any fee charged for the development or
  maintenance of programs or [of] facilities for the control of
  excess water or storm water.
         SECTION 2.34.  Section 1903.053, Occupations Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 1903.053.  STANDARDS.  (a)  The commission shall adopt
  by rule and enforce standards governing:
               (1)  the connection of irrigation systems to any water
  supply;
               (2)  the design, installation, and operation of
  irrigation systems;
               (3)  water conservation; and
               (4)  the duties and responsibilities of licensed
  irrigators.
         (b)  [The commission may adopt standards for irrigation that
  include water conservation, irrigation system design and
  installation, and compliance with municipal codes.
         [(c)]  The commission may not require or prohibit the use of
  any irrigation system, component part, or equipment of any
  particular brand or manufacturer.
         (c)  In adopting standards under this section, the
  commission shall consult the council.
         SECTION 2.35.  (a)  In this section, "board" means the Texas
  Water Development Board.
         (b)  The board, in coordination with the Far West Texas
  Regional Water Planning Group established pursuant to Section
  16.053, Water Code, shall conduct a study regarding the possible
  impact of climate change on surface water supplies from the Rio
  Grande.
         (c)  In conducting the study, the board shall convene a
  conference within the Far West Texas regional water planning area
  designated pursuant to Section 16.053, Water Code, to review:
               (1)  any analysis conducted by a state located to the
  west of this state regarding the impact of climate change on surface
  water supplies in that state;
               (2)  any other current analysis of potential impacts of
  climate change on surface water resources; and
               (3)  recommendations for incorporation of potential
  impacts of climate change into the Far West Texas Regional Water
  Plan, including potential impacts to the Rio Grande in Texas
  subject to the Rio Grande Compact and identification of feasible
  water management strategies to offset any potential impacts.
         (d)  The conference should include, but not be limited to,
  the participation of representatives of:
               (1)  the Far West Texas Regional Water Planning Group;
               (2)  water authorities;
               (3)  industrial customers;
               (4)  agricultural interests;
               (5)  municipalities;
               (6)  fishing or recreational interests;
               (7)  environmental advocacy organizations; and
               (8)  institutions of higher education.
         (e)  Not later than December 31, 2008, the board shall submit
  to the legislature a written report regarding the study findings
  under this section.
         SECTION 2.36.  (a)  Chapter 9, Water Code, is repealed.
         (b)  The Texas Water Advisory Council is abolished on the
  effective date of this article.
         SECTION 2.37.  Chapter 64, Water Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 2.38.  As soon as practicable on or after the
  effective date of this article, the Texas Water Development Board
  shall appoint the initial members of the Water Conservation
  Advisory Council, as required by Section 10.003, Water Code, as
  added by this article.  In making the initial appointments, the
  board shall designate seven members to serve terms expiring August
  31, 2009, eight members to serve terms expiring August 31, 2011, and
  eight members to serve terms expiring August 31, 2013.
         SECTION 2.39.  The changes made by this Act to Section
  13.2451, Water Code, apply only to:
               (1)  an application for a certificate of public
  convenience and necessity or for an amendment to a certificate of
  public convenience and necessity submitted to the Texas Commission
  on Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act;
               (2)  a proceeding to amend or revoke a certificate of
  public convenience and necessity initiated on or after the
  effective date of this Act;
               (3)  a certificate of public convenience and necessity
  issued to a municipality, regardless of the date the certificate
  was issued;
               (4)  an application by a municipality or by a utility
  owned by a municipality for a certificate of public convenience and
  necessity or for an amendment to a certificate, regardless of the
  date the application was filed; and
               (5)  a proceeding to amend or revoke a certificate of
  public convenience and necessity held by a municipality or by a
  utility owned by a municipality, regardless of the date the
  proceeding was initiated.
         SECTION 2.40.  Sections 15.102 and 17.125, Water Code, as
  amended by this article, and Sections 15.9751 and 16.1311, Water
  Code, as added by this article, apply only to an application for
  financial assistance filed with the Texas Water Development Board
  on or after the effective date of this article.  An application for
  financial assistance filed before the effective date of this
  article is governed by the law in effect on the date the application
  was filed, and the former law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 2.41.  The change in law made by Subchapter O,
  Chapter 49, Water Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a
  subdivision for which a plat or map has been recorded in the office
  of the county clerk of a county on or after the effective date of
  this Act.  A subdivision for which a plat or map was recorded before
  the effective date of this Act is covered by the law in effect on the
  date the plat or map was recorded, and the former law is continued
  in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 2.42.  Not later than June 1, 2008, the Texas
  Commission on Environmental Quality shall adopt standards as
  required by Section 1903.053, Occupations Code, as amended by this
  article, to take effect January 1, 2009.
         SECTION 2.43.  Section 2.27 of this article, adding
  Subsection (c-1), Section 447.004, Government Code, takes effect
  September 1, 2009.
  ARTICLE 3.  CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF RESERVOIRS
         SECTION 3.01.  Section 16.051, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (i)  For purposes of this section, the acquisition of fee
  title or an easement by a political subdivision for the purpose of
  providing retail public utility service to property in the
  reservoir site or allowing an owner of property in the reservoir
  site to improve or develop the property may not be considered a
  significant impairment that prevents the construction of a
  reservoir site under Subsection (g). A fee title or easement
  acquired under this subsection may not be considered the basis for
  preventing the future acquisition of land needed to construct a
  reservoir on a designated site.
         SECTION 3.02.  Subchapter E, Chapter 16, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Sections 16.143 and 16.144 to read as follows:
         Sec. 16.143.  OPTION TO LEASE. (a)  A former owner of real
  property used for agricultural purposes that was acquired,
  voluntarily or through the exercise of the power of eminent domain,
  for a reservoir whose site has been designated as unique for the
  construction of a reservoir under Section 16.051(g) is entitled to
  lease the property from the person who acquired the property under
  terms that allow the former owner to continue to use the property
  for agricultural purposes until the person who acquired the
  property determines that such use must be terminated to allow for
  the physical construction of the reservoir. Consistent with
  Subsection (b), the lease is subject to the terms and conditions set
  forth by the person who has acquired the property that are related
  to the use of the property by the former owner, including the term
  of the lease, the rent the former owner is required to pay under the
  lease, and the uses that may be allowed on the property during the
  term of the lease.
         (b)  A former owner of real property used for agricultural
  purposes is entitled to lease the property for the property's
  agricultural rental value until the person who acquired the
  property determines that the lease must be terminated to allow for
  the physical construction of the reservoir.
         Sec. 16.144.  ENVIRONMENTAL MITIGATION. (a)  If a person
  proposing to construct a reservoir whose site has been designated
  as unique for the construction of a reservoir under Section
  16.051(g) is required to mitigate future adverse environmental
  effects arising from the construction or operation of the reservoir
  or its related facilities, the person shall, if authorized by the
  applicable regulatory authority, attempt to mitigate those effects
  by offering to contract with and pay an amount of money to an owner
  of real property located outside of the reservoir site to maintain
  the property through an easement instead of acquiring the fee
  simple title to the property for that purpose.
         (b)  An owner of real property may reject an offer made under
  Subsection (a). If agreement on the terms of an easement under
  Subsection (a) cannot be reached by the parties after a good faith
  attempt and offer is made, then the party constructing the
  reservoir may obtain fee title to the property through voluntary or
  involuntary means.
  ARTICLE 4.  UNIQUE RESERVOIR SITES AND SITES OF UNIQUE ECOLOGICAL
  VALUE
         SECTION 4.01.  Section 16.051, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (g-1) to read as follows:
         (g-1)  Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a site is
  considered to be a designated site of unique value for the
  construction of a reservoir if the site is recommended for
  designation in the 2007 state water plan adopted by the board and in
  effect on May 1, 2007. The designation of a unique reservoir site
  under this subsection terminates on September 1, 2015, unless there
  is an affirmative vote by a proposed project sponsor to make
  expenditures necessary in order to construct or file applications
  for permits required in connection with the construction of the
  reservoir under federal or state law.
         SECTION 4.02.  DESIGNATION OF SITES OF UNIQUE ECOLOGICAL
  VALUE.  The legislature, as authorized by Subsection (f), Section
  16.051, Water Code, designates those river or stream segment sites
  recommended in the 2007 state water plan as being of unique
  ecological value.
         SECTION 4.03.  RESTRICTION ON ELIGIBILITY TO HOLD WATER
  RIGHTS; LIABILITY FOR CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE
  COSTS. (a)  This section applies only to the proposed Marvin
  Nichols and Lake Fastrill reservoirs.
         (b)  The right to appropriate at least 20 percent of the
  quantity of water that is authorized to be appropriated from each
  proposed reservoir must be held by one or more entities located in
  the regional water planning area in which the reservoir is to be
  located.
         (c)  If one or more entities located outside the regional
  water planning area in which a proposed reservoir is to be located
  are to hold the right to appropriate a majority of the quantity of
  water that is authorized to be appropriated from the reservoir,
  that entity or those entities must pay all of the costs of
  constructing, operating, and maintaining the reservoir until such
  time as one or more entities located in the regional water planning
  area in which the reservoir is to be located begins diverting water.
  At such time, the entity or entities making a diversion shall pay a
  pro-rata share of the cost of operating and maintaining the
  reservoir.
         SECTION 4.04.  STUDY COMMISSION ON REGION C WATER SUPPLY.
  (a)  The Study Commission on Region C Water Supply is established.
  The study commission consists of six members as follows:
               (1)  three members appointed by the Region C Regional
  Water Planning Group; and
               (2)  three members appointed by the Region D Regional
  Water Planning Group.
         (b)  A member of the study commission may be, but is not
  required to be, a voting member of the regional water planning group
  that appointed the member.
         (c)  The members of the study commission shall select a
  presiding officer from among the members.
         (d)  Members of the study commission are not entitled to
  compensation for service on the study commission but may be
  reimbursed for travel expenses incurred while conducting the
  business of the study commission, as provided for in the General
  Appropriations Act.
         (e)  The study commission shall:
               (1)  review the water supply alternatives available to
  the Region C Regional Water Planning Area, including obtaining
  additional water supply from Wright Patman Lake, Toledo Bend
  Reservoir, Lake Texoma, Lake O' the Pines, other existing and
  proposed reservoirs, and groundwater;
               (2)  in connection with the review under Subdivision
  (1) of this subsection, analyze the socioeconomic effect on the
  area where the water supply is located that would result from the
  use of the water to meet the water needs of the Region C Regional
  Water Planning Area, including:
                     (A)  the effects on landowners, agricultural and
  natural resources, businesses, industries, and taxing entities of
  different water management strategies; and
                     (B)  in connection with the use by the Region C
  Regional Water Planning Area of water from Wright Patman Lake, the
  effect on water availability in that lake and the effect on
  industries relying on that water availability;
               (3)  determine whether water demand in the Region C
  Regional Water Planning Area may be reduced through additional
  conservation and reuse measures so as to postpone the need for
  additional water supplies;
               (4)  evaluate measures that would need to be taken to
  comply with the mitigation requirements of the United States Army
  Corps of Engineers in connection with any proposed new reservoirs,
  including identifying potential mitigation sites;
               (5)  consider whether the mitigation burden described
  by Subdivision (4) of this subsection may be shared by the Regions C
  and D Regional Water Planning Areas in proportion to the allocation
  to each region of water in any proposed reservoir;
               (6)  review innovative methods of compensation to
  affected property owners, including royalties for water stored on
  acquired properties and annual payments to landowners for
  properties acquired for the construction of a reservoir to satisfy
  future water management strategies;
               (7)  evaluate the minimum number of surface acres
  required for the construction of proposed reservoirs in order to
  develop adequate water supply; and
               (8)  identify the locations of proposed reservoir sites
  and proposed mitigation sites, as applicable, as selected in
  accordance with existing state and federal law, in the Regions C and
  D Regional Water Planning Areas using satellite imagery with
  sufficient resolution to permit land ownership to be determined.
         (f)  The study commission may not be assisted by any person
  that is a party to or is employed by a party to a contract to perform
  engineering work with respect to site selection, permitting,
  design, or construction of the proposed Marvin Nichols reservoir.
         (g)  The Texas Water Development Board, on request of the
  study commission, may provide staff support or other assistance
  necessary to enable the study commission to carry out its duties.
  The Texas Water Development Board shall provide funding for the
  study commission, including funding of any studies conducted by the
  study commission, from the regional planning budget of the board.
         (h)  Not later than December 1, 2010, the study commission
  shall deliver a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and
  speaker of the house of representatives that includes:
               (1)  any studies completed by the study commission;
               (2)  any legislation proposed by the study commission;
               (3)  a recommendation as to whether Marvin Nichols
  should remain a designated reservoir site; and 
               (4)  other findings and recommendations of the study
  commission.
         (i)  The study commission is abolished and this section
  expires December 31, 2011.
         SECTION 4.05.  EFFECTIVE DATE. 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 5.  LEGISLATIVE JOINT INTERIM COMMITTEE
         SECTION 5.01.  (a)  In this section, "committee" means the
  joint interim committee on state water funding.
         (b)  The committee is composed of eight members as follows:
               (1)  the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural
  Resources and the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources
  who shall serve as joint chairs of the committee;
               (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)  An appointed member of the committee serves at the
  pleasure of the appointing official.
         (d)  The committee shall meet at least annually with the
  executive director of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  and the executive administrator of the Texas Water Development
  Board to:
               (1)  receive information on water infrastructure needs
  as identified in the state water plan;
               (2)  receive information on infrastructure cost and
  funding options to be used by local entities to meet the needs
  identified in the state water plan;
               (3)  receive analyses of the funding gap and
  recommendations on how to address those funding needs;
               (4)  receive information on whether all water fees
  assessed are sufficient to support the required regulatory
  water-related state program functions and activities; and
               (5)  identify viable, sustainable, dedicated revenues
  and fee sources, or increases to existing revenue and fees, to
  support state water programs and to provide for natural resources
  data collection and dissemination, financial assistance programs,
  and water resources planning, including funding to implement water
  management strategies in the state water plan.
         (e)  The committee may hold hearings and may request reports
  and other information from state agencies as necessary to carry out
  this section.
         (f)  The Senate Committee on Natural Resources and the House
  Committee on Natural Resources shall provide staff necessary for
  the committee to fulfill its duties.
         (g)  Not later than December 1, 2008, the committee shall
  report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
  the house of representatives on the committee's activities under
  Subsection (d) of this section. The report shall include
  recommendations of any legislative action necessary to address
  funding needs to support the state's water programs and water
  infrastructure needs.
  ARTICLE 6.  WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD
         SECTION 6.01.  Section 16.344, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsections (d) through (i) to read as follows:
         (d)  Notwithstanding Section 16.343(g) or Section 16.350(a),
  a political subdivision may temporarily continue to receive funds
  under Subchapter K, Chapter 17, if the political subdivision
  submits a request for temporary continuation of funding and the
  board determines that:
               (1)  the political subdivision's initial funding
  application and any amendments for a designated area were reviewed
  and approved by the board before January 1, 2007;
               (2)  withholding funds would result in an undue
  hardship for occupants of the property to be served by unreasonably
  delaying the provision of adequate water or wastewater services;
               (3)  withholding funds would result in inefficient use
  of local, state, or federal funds under the program;
               (4)  the political subdivision has committed to take
  the necessary and appropriate actions to correct any deficiencies
  in adoption or enforcement of the model rules within the time
  designated by the board, but not later than the 90th day after the
  date the board makes the determinations under this subsection;
               (5)  the political subdivision has sufficient
  safeguards in place to prevent the proliferation of colonias; and
               (6)  during the 30 days after the date the board
  receives a request under this subsection, the board, after
  consulting with the attorney general, secretary of state, and
  commission, has not received an objection from any of those
  entities to the request for temporary continuation of funding.
         (e)  In applying Subsection (d) to applications for
  increased financial assistance, the board shall only consider areas
  that were included in the initial application, except that the
  board may reconsider the eligibility of areas that were the subject
  of a facility plan in the initial application and that may be
  determined to be eligible based on criteria in effect September 1,
  2005.
         (f)  The political subdivision shall take necessary and
  appropriate actions to correct any deficiencies in its adoption and
  enforcement of the model rules within the time period required by
  the board, not to exceed the 90-day period described by Subsection
  (d)(4), and provide evidence of compliance to the board. The board
  shall discontinue funding unless the board makes a determination
  based on the evidence provided that the political subdivision has
  demonstrated sufficient compliance to continue funding.
         (g)  Except as provided by Subsections (d)-(f), if the board
  determines that a county or city that is required to adopt and
  enforce the model rules is not enforcing the model rules, the board
  shall discontinue funding for all projects within the county or
  city that are funded under Subchapter K, Chapter 17.
         (h)  The board may not accept or grant applications for
  temporary funding under Subsection (d) after June 1, 2009.
         (i)  Subsections (d), (e), (f), (g), and (h) and this
  subsection expire September 1, 2009.
  ARTICLE 7.  RATE CLASSES FOR BILLING
         SECTION 7.01.  Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is
  amended by adding Section 49.2122 to read as follows:
         Sec. 49.2122.  ESTABLISHMENT OF CUSTOMER CLASSES.
  (a)  Notwithstanding any other law, a district may establish
  different charges, fees, rentals, or deposits among classes of
  customers that are based on any factor the district considers
  appropriate, including:
               (1)  the similarity of the type of customer to other
  customers in the class, including:
                     (A)  residential;
                     (B)  commercial;
                     (C)  industrial;
                     (D)  apartment;
                     (E)  rental housing;
                     (F)  irrigation;
                     (G)  homeowner associations;
                     (H)  builder;
                     (I)  out-of-district;
                     (J)  nonprofit organization; and
                     (K)  any other type of customer as determined by
  the district;
               (2)  the type of services provided to the customer
  class;
               (3)  the cost of facilities, operations, and
  administrative services to provide service to a particular class of
  customer, including additional costs to the district for security,
  recreational facilities, or fire protection paid from other
  revenues; and
               (4)  the total revenues, including ad valorem tax
  revenues and connection fees, received by the district from a class
  of customers relative to the cost of service to the class of
  customers.
         (b)  A district is presumed to have weighed and considered
  appropriate factors and to have properly established charges, fees,
  rentals, and deposits absent a showing that the district acted
  arbitrarily and capriciously.
  ARTICLE 8. STUDY OF ROLE OF LAKE SOMERVILLE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
         SECTION 8.01.  The legislature finds that:
               (1)  in 1954, the United States Congress authorized the
  construction of Lake Somerville to provide flood control, water
  conservation, and other beneficial uses for nearby areas;
  subsequently, the United States Army Corps of Engineers began
  reservoir construction in 1962 and began to impound water in 1967;
               (2)  straddling the borders of Burleson, Washington,
  and Lee Counties, on Yegua Creek 20 river miles upstream from that
  creek's confluence with the Brazos River, the lake has a storage
  capacity of 337,700 acre-feet;
               (3)  operation of the lake is supervised by the Fort
  Worth District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers; the
  lake is one of nine federal reservoirs that are integrated into the
  Brazos River Authority's basin-wide system and associated water
  resource development master plan;
               (4)  the Brazos River Authority owns the stored water,
  a source from which it furnishes supplies to the City of Brenham
  according to a contract that was last renewed for a 10-year period
  in 2003;
               (5)  also significantly involved in the region is the
  Lower Colorado River Authority, which, from its diverse mix of
  power plants, provides wholesale electricity to various
  communities as well as offering them its economic research and
  expertise;
               (6)  although Lake Somerville has long been a tourist
  destination for fishing and other water recreation, the facility
  has not fully effectuated the three-county economic impact that
  originally was expected at the time that it was built; and
               (7)  a study of Lake Somerville's role in economic
  development would assist in explaining why the lake has not yet had
  that impact, beyond the tourism industry, and would help to
  identify impediments that currently restrict its contribution as
  well as strategies that would better maximize its economic
  potential.
         SECTION 8.02.  The Brazos River Authority and the Lower
  Colorado River Authority shall:
               (1)  conduct, with appropriate input from the public
  and private sectors, a joint baseline study of the role of Lake
  Somerville in the economic development of the surrounding vicinity;
  and
               (2)  jointly submit a full report of their findings and
  recommendations to the 81st Legislature when that legislature
  convenes in January 2009.
  ARTICLE 9.  AGUA SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT
         SECTION 9.01.  The heading to Chapter 7201, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 7201. AGUA [LA JOYA] SPECIAL UTILITY DISTRICT
         SECTION 9.02.  Section 7201.001, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by amending Subdivision (3) and adding Subdivision
  (4) to read as follows:
               (3)  "Director" means a member of the board.
               (4)  "District" means the Agua [La Joya] Special
  Utility District.
         SECTION 9.03.  Subsection (c), Section 7201.002, Special
  District Local Laws Code, is amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The [On the effective date of the Act enacting this
  chapter, the] corporation shall be dissolved and succeeded without
  interruption by the district as provided by Subchapter A1.
         SECTION 9.04.  Section 7201.005, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding
  Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (a)  The [boundaries of the corporation and initial
  boundaries of the] district is composed of the territory described
  by Section 9.12 of the Act enacted by the 80th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2007, amending this subsection [are coextensive with the
  service areas covered by Certificates of Convenience and Necessity
  Nos. 10559 and 20785, as recorded on the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality maps associated with those certificates.
  Those maps are incorporated in this section by reference].
         (b)  The boundaries and field notes contained in Section 9.12
  of the Act enacted by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007,
  amending this subsection form a closure. A mistake made in the
  field notes or in copying the field notes in the legislative process
  [preparation, copying, or filing of the maps described by
  Subsection (a) and on file with the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality] does not affect:
               (1)  the organization, existence, or validity of the
  district;
               (2)  the right of the district to issue bonds; or
               (3)  the legality or operation of the district.
         (d)  The territory of the district does not include and the
  district does not have jurisdiction over land that has never been in
  the service area of the corporation regardless of any erroneous
  inclusion of that land in the boundaries and field notes in Section
  9.12 of the Act enacted by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session,
  2007, amending this section.
         SECTION 9.05.  Section 7201.021, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a), (b), and (d) and
  adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by this subsection, after the
  appointment of initial directors under Section 7201.051, the
  receiver for the corporation [On the effective date of the Act
  enacting this chapter, the corporation] shall transfer the assets,
  debts, and contractual rights and obligations of the corporation,
  including all legal claims against the corporation in effect on the
  date of the transfer, to the district and provide notices and make
  recordings of the transfer required by the Water Code and general
  law. If the transfer of any debt requires the permission of the
  lender, the receiver shall initiate proceedings to obtain that
  permission.
         (b)  In accordance with the orders of the receivership court
  and not [Not] later than the 30th day after the date of the transfer
  under Subsection (a), the receiver for [board of directors of] the
  corporation shall commence dissolution proceedings of the
  corporation.
         (d)  The receiver for [board of directors of] the corporation
  shall notify the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality of the
  dissolution of the corporation and its succession in interest by
  [the creation of] the district in order [to replace it] to effect
  the transfer of Certificates of Convenience and Necessity Nos.
  10559 and 20785 to the district.
         (f)  After the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  takes the action required by Subsection (e), the court shall
  terminate the receivership.
         SECTION 9.06.  Section 7201.022, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 7201.022.  EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  expires September 1, 2012 [2008].
         SECTION 9.07.  Section 7201.051, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 7201.051.  APPOINTMENT OF INITIAL [TEMPORARY]
  DIRECTORS.  (a)  As soon as practicable after the effective date of
  the Act enacted by the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007,
  amending this section, seven initial directors shall be appointed
  as provided by this section [The directors of the corporation who
  hold office on the effective date of the Act enacting this chapter
  shall serve as the temporary directors of the district until
  successor directors are elected and qualify for office].
         (b)  To be eligible to be appointed as an initial director,
  an individual must meet the same requirements as a candidate for an
  elected position as director under Section 7201.052. The initial
  directors shall be appointed as follows:
               (1)  one director to represent the residents of the
  district in the City of Mission appointed by the governing body of
  that city;
               (2)  one director to represent the residents of the
  district in the City of Palmview appointed by the governing body of
  that city;
               (3)  one director to represent the residents of the
  district in the City of Penitas appointed by the governing body of
  that city;
               (4)  one director to represent the residents of the
  district in the City of Sullivan City appointed by the governing
  body of that city; and
               (5)  three directors to represent the residents of the
  district outside the municipalities listed in Subdivisions (1)-(4)
  appointed by the Hidalgo County Commissioners Court [The temporary
  directors of the district are assigned position numbers as follows:
               [(1)  Position 1, Jose Luis Trigo;
               [(2)  Position 2, Jose Guadalupe Reyna;
               [(3)  Position 3, George Barreiro;
               [(4)  Position 4, Frolian Ramirez;
               [(5)  Position 5, Russell Wicker;
               [(6)  Position 6, Benito Salinas;
               [(7)  Position 7, Manuel Ricardo Garcia;
               [(8)  Position 8, Valente Alaniz, Jr.; and
               [(9)  Position 9, Juan Lino Garza].
         (c)  An initial director serves a term that expires on June 1
  of the year in which the director's successor is elected under
  Section 7201.052 [If there is a vacancy on the temporary board of
  directors of the district, the temporary board shall appoint a
  person to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term for the
  vacated position until the applicable election under Section
  7201.052].
         SECTION 9.08.  Subchapter B, Chapter 7201, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Sections 7201.0512 and
  7201.0513 to read as follows:
         Sec. 7201.0512.  INITIAL BOARD TRAINING. (a)  Not later
  than the 60th day after the first date on which all of the initial
  directors have been appointed, each initial director shall complete
  at least 12 hours of training on district management and compliance
  with laws applicable to the district as determined by the receiver
  for the corporation.
         (b)  The district shall reimburse an initial director for the
  reasonable expenses incurred by the director in attending the
  training.
         Sec. 7201.0513.  EDUCATION PROGRAM. (a)  Before the first
  election of directors under Section 7201.052, the initial board
  shall establish a program of education for directors that includes
  information on:
               (1)  the history of the district;
               (2)  the district's enabling legislation;
               (3)  Chapters 49 and 65, Water Code, and other laws that
  apply to the district, including the requirements of the:
                     (A)  open meetings law, Chapter 551, Government
  Code; and
                     (B)  public information law, Chapter 552,
  Government Code;
               (4)  relevant legal developments related to water
  district governance;
               (5)  the duties and responsibilities of the board;
               (6)  the requirements of conflict of interest laws and
  other laws relating to public officials; and
               (7)  any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or the Texas Ethics
  Commission.
         (b)  The district shall pay any costs associated with the
  development of the education program from district revenue.
         (c)  The education program may include training provided by
  an organization offering courses that have been approved by the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
         (d)  The board may adopt bylaws modifying the education
  program as necessary to meet district needs.
         SECTION 9.09.  Section 7201.052, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 7201.052.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS. (a)  Except as provided
  by Subsection (l), the [The] district shall be governed by a board
  of seven [not fewer than nine and not more than 11] directors,
  elected as follows:
               (1)  one director elected by the voters of the part of
  the City of Mission inside the district to represent that part of
  the city;
               (2)  one director elected by the voters of the City of
  Palmview to represent that city;
               (3)  one director elected by the voters of the City of
  Penitas to represent that city;
               (4)  one director elected by the voters of the City of
  Sullivan City to represent that city; and
               (5)  three directors elected at-large to numbered
  positions on the board by the district voters who do not reside in
  any of the municipalities listed in Subdivisions (1)-(4) to
  represent the part of the district that is not included in those
  municipalities, unless the number of at-large directors is
  increased under Subsection (l) [in accordance with Section 49.103,
  Water Code, notwithstanding Subsection (f)(2) of that section].
         (b)  A [Except for a temporary director under Section
  7201.051, a] candidate for one of the numbered [a position as]
  director positions:
               (1)  [is elected at large to represent the entire
  service area of the district;
               [(2)]  must reside in the part of the service area of
  the district that is not included in any of the municipalities
  listed in Subsections (a)(1)-(4); and
               (2) [(3)]  must be eligible to hold office under
  Section 141.001, Election Code.
         (c)  A candidate for one of the director positions
  representing a municipality listed in Subsection (a)(1), (2), (3),
  or (4):
               (1)  must reside in the municipality the candidate
  seeks to represent; and
               (2)  must be eligible to hold office under Section
  141.001, Election Code.
         (d)  It is the policy of the district that the directors
  shall represent and reside in as broad a cross-section of the
  geographic area of the district as possible.
         (e) [(d)]  The district shall fill a vacancy on the board in
  accordance with Section 49.105, Water Code.
         (f) [(e)]  Except for the initial [temporary] directors
  appointed [listed] under Section 7201.051 or elected at the first
  election under Subsection (g), directors serve staggered terms of
  four [three] years.
         (g) [(f)]  On the uniform election date in May 2008, or in
  May 2010, if the election is postponed under Subsection (h), the
  district shall hold an election to elect seven directors. On the
  [2006, and on that] uniform election date in May of each
  even-numbered [every third] year after that date, the district
  shall hold an election to elect the appropriate number of [three]
  directors [to serve in positions 1, 4, and 7].
         (h)  The initial board by order may postpone until the
  uniform election date in May 2010 the first election for directors
  under Subsection (g) if the initial board determines that there is
  not sufficient time to comply with the requirements of law and to
  order the election of directors to be held on the first uniform
  election date specified by that subsection.
         (i)  The directors elected at the first election under
  Subsection (g) shall cast lots to determine which three directors
  shall serve terms expiring June 1 of the first even-numbered year
  after the year in which the directors are elected and which four
  directors shall serve terms expiring June 1 of the second
  even-numbered year after the year in which the directors are
  elected.
         (j)  A director may not serve consecutive terms.
         (k)  A person who has served as a member of the board of
  directors of the corporation is not eligible to serve as a district
  director.
         (l)  If, before the expiration of the term of a director
  elected to represent a municipality under Subsection (a)(1), (2),
  (3), or (4), the district determines that all of the incorporated
  territory of the municipality is outside the boundaries of the
  district, the position immediately becomes an at-large numbered
  position to be filled at the next general election of the district
  in accordance with Subsections (a)(5) and (b) [(g)     On the uniform
  election date in May 2007, and on that uniform election date every
  third year after that date, the district shall hold an election to
  elect three directors to serve in positions 2, 3, and 5.
         [(h)     On the uniform election date in May 2008, and on that
  uniform election date every third year after that date, the
  district shall hold an election to elect three directors to serve in
  positions 6, 8, and 9].
         SECTION 9.10.  Subchapter B, Chapter 7201, Special District
  Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Sections 7201.053 and
  7201.054 to read as follows:
         Sec. 7201.053.  DISTRICT TREASURER. (a)  The board shall
  elect from among its members one director to serve as district
  treasurer.
         (b)  The district treasurer shall comply with the training
  requirements provided by Section 49.1571, Water Code, for an
  investment officer of a district.
         Sec. 7201.054.  EDUCATION FOR DIRECTORS. (a)  Except for an
  initial director whose term expires in 2008, each director shall
  complete the education program established under Section 7201.0513
  before the first anniversary of the date on which the director was
  appointed or elected.
         (b)  The district shall reimburse a director for the
  reasonable expenses incurred by the director in attending the
  education program.
         (c)  A director who is elected to serve a subsequent term
  shall fulfill the education requirements specified by district
  bylaws.
         SECTION 9.11.  Section 7201.206, Special District Local Laws
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 7201.206.  RATES AND FEES FOR SERVICES. (a)  The
  district, in connection with water or sewer retail public utility
  services, shall establish lifeline, senior citizen, or minimum
  consumption level rates for services. The rate impact of such
  services shall be allocated on the basis of costs of services to
  achieve conservation principles, while securing necessary reserves
  for the payment of operating expenses, sinking funds, principal,
  interest, and debt coverage factors, and any other objective
  established by the district's annual budget.
         (b)  Chapter 395, Local Government Code, does not apply to
  any fee, charge, or assessment that, before the corporation's
  dissolution and conversion to a district, is adopted by the
  receiver for the purpose of generating revenue to fund or recoup the
  costs of capital improvements or facility expansions necessitated
  by and attributable to new developments.
         (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (b), beginning on December
  31, 2009, the district may not impose any fee, charge, or assessment
  that, before the corporation's dissolution and conversion to a
  district, is adopted by the receiver for the purpose of generating
  revenue to fund or recoup the costs of capital improvements or
  facility expansions necessitated by and attributable to new
  developments unless the district readopts the fee, charge, or
  assessment or adopts a new fee, charge, or assessment in accordance
  with Chapter 395, Local Government Code. This subsection does not
  apply to a retail water or sewer rate adopted by the receiver or the
  district.
         SECTION 9.12.  (a)  Except for the areas excluded under
  Subsection (b) of this section, the boundaries of the Agua Special
  Utility District are as follows:
         Beginning at a point in the centerline of FM 495 (Mile 1 Road)
  a distance of approximately .18 miles west of the intersection of FM
  495 and Inspiration Road.
         Thence due north approximately 1.0 miles to a point
  approximately 166 feet south of the centerline of Mile 2 Road and
  approximately .18 miles west of the intersection of Mile 2 Road and
  Inspiration Road
         Thence follow west along a straight westerly line
  approximately 180 feet south of Mile 2 Road approximately .51 miles
  to a point in the centerline of Schubach Road.
         Following westerly in a straight line approximately .78 miles
  to the centerline of Bentsen Palm Drive.
         From the point at the centerline of Bentsen Palm Road
  continue westerly approximately .78 miles to a point at 26 15 00
  latitude and -98 22 10 longitude.
         Turn right and due north and follow approximately 7.0 miles
  in a northerly direction .10 miles west and parallel to Bentsen Palm
  Drive to a point at 226 21 04 latitude and -98 21 06 longitude.
         Turn left and follow westerly along a straight line a
  distance of approximately 1.66 miles to the intersection of Abram
  Road and 9 Mile Road.
         Follow along the centerline of 9 Mile Road westerly
  approximately 1.65 miles to its intersection with Iowa Avenue.  
  (Latitude: 26 21 31, Longitude: -98 24 16)
         Continue westerly along a straight line from latitude 26 21
  31, longitude -98 24 16 approximately 3.79 miles to the center line
  of FM 2221 ( Jara Chinas Road)
         Thence due south along FM 2221 ( Jara Chinas Road)
  approximate distance of 8.02 Miles to a point approximately .75
  miles north of the Intersection of Expressway 83 and FM 2221( Jara
  Chinas Road)
         Thence at a distance of approximately .75 miles north of the
  centerline of Expressway 83 due west to northwest approximately 4
  miles following along the same contour as Expressway 83 to the
  centerline of El Faro Road from a point .62 miles east of the
  intersection of El Faro Road and Expressway 83.
         Turn right and follow due north down the centerline of El Faro
  Road until its end and continue northerly for a total of
  approximately 2.79 miles to a point at latitude 26 19 13 and
  longitude -98 32 40.
         Turn left and follow northwesterly in a straight line along
  the east side of 16 Mile Road (Starr County) approximately 1.87
  miles to a point located at 26 19 30 latitude and -98 34 27
  longitude.
         Turn right and follow northeasterly in a straight line
  approximately 1.02 miles to a point located at 26 20 22 latitude and
  -98 34 17 longitude.
         Turn right and follow southeasterly in a straight line
  approximately 1.26 miles to a point located at 26 20 22 latitude and
  -98 33 05 longitude.
         Turn right and follow northeasterly in a straight line along
  the west side of County Line Road (Starr County) approximately .61
  miles to a point located at 26 20 43 latitude and -98 32 60
  longitude.
         Turn left and follow northwesterly in a straight line
  approximately 1.26 miles to a point located at 26 20 53 latitude and
  -98 34 12 longitude.
         Turn right and follow northeasterly in a straight line along
  the east side of 16 Mile Road (Starr County) approximately 1.32
  miles to a point located at 26 22 02 latitude and -98 33 59
  longitude.
         Turn left and follow northwesterly in a straight line
  approximately .55 miles to a point located at 26 22 07 latitude and
  -98 34 30 longitude.
         Turn left and follow southwesterly in a straight line
  approximately 6.17 miles to a point located at 26 16 48 latitude and
  -98 35 29 longitude.
         Turn left and follow southeasterly in a straight line
  approximately .91 miles to a point located at 26 16 30 latitude and
  -98 34 40 longitude, near the Hidalgo-Starr County line.
         Turn right and follow southwesterly along the Hidalgo-Starr
  County line approximately 1.28 miles to its intersection with the
  Rio Grande River (U.S. side).
         Thence due south approximately 7.77 miles to the northern
  winding banks (U.S. side) of the Rio Grande River
         Thence east along the northern winding banks ( US side ) of
  the Rio Grande River approximately 22 miles to a point
  approximately 1.16 miles south of Greene Road
         Thence from that center line on Bentsen Park Road
  approximately .82 miles east northeast to the centerline of
  Breyfogle/Shuerbach Road
         Turn left and follow westerly in a straight line
  approximately .56 miles to a point located 26 11 20 latitude and -98
  22 30 longitude.
         Turn left and follow southerly in a straight line
  approximately .50 miles to the centerline of Miltary Road.
         Turn right and follow northerly and then northwesterly along
  the north side of Military Road approximately .36 miles to its
  intersection with Farm-to-Market Road 2062.
         Turn left and follow southerly along Farm-to-Market Road 2062
  approximately .16 miles to a point located at 26 11 02 latitude and
  -98 22 46 longitude.
         Turn right and follow northerly, westerly, southerly,
  southwesterly, northerly, westerly and then southwesterly for
  approximately 1.27 miles to a point located at 26 11 11 latitude and
  -98 23 38 longitude running just north of Park Road 43.
         Turn right and follow northeasterly along a straight line for
  approximately .71 miles to the north side of Military Road.
         Turn left and follow along westerly approximately .44 miles
  along the north side of Military Road to its intersection with
  Goodwin Road.
         Turn right and follow northerly along the centerline of
  Goodwin Road approximately .33 miles to a point located at 26 12 07
  latitude and -98 23 53 longitude.
         Turn right and follow easterly, northerly, easterly and then
  southeasterly approximately .78 miles to the intersection with
  Green Road.
         Turn left and follow northerly along the centerline of Green
  Road approximately .32 miles.
         Turn right and follow easterly and then southwesterly
  approximately 1.16 miles to the north side of Military Road at
  points 26 11 42 latitude and -98 23 16 longitude.
         Turn left and follow southeasterly along the north side of
  Military Road approximately 0.07 miles to a point located at 26 11
  40 latitude and -98 23 13 longitude.
         Turn left and follow northeasterly, northerly,
  northeasterly, northerly, northeasterly, easterly, southerly and
  then easterly approximately 2.04 miles to the centerline of
  Shuebach Road/Airfield Road
         Turn left and follow northeasterly along the centerline of
  Airfield Road approximately 1.48 miles to its intersection with
  U.S. Highway 83 Business.
         Turn right and follow easterly along the centerline of U.S.
  Highway 83 Business approximately .27 miles to its intersection
  with Moorefield Road.
         Turn left and follow northerly along the centerline of
  Moorefield Road approximately .32 miles to a point located at 26 13
  23 latitude and -98 21 21 longitude.
         Make a slight right and follow northeasterly and then
  northerly along the west banks of the Edinburg Main Canal
  approximately .66 miles to that point on the centerline of FM 495
  the beginning (Mile 1 Road) a distance of approximately .18 miles
  west of the intersection of FM 495 and Inspiration Road to Close.
         (b)  The territory of the Agua Special Utility District does
  not include the area within the city limits of La Joya, Texas, as it
  existed on January 1, 1991; the area within the Certificate of
  Convenience and Necessity of Hidalgo County Municipal Utility
  District No. 1 as reflected on the records of the Texas Commission
  on Environmental Quality as of January 1, 2007; and the area within
  the following boundary lines, which lie wholly within the district:
         Beginning at a point located at 26 14 57 Latitude and -98 25
  55 Longitude follow in a northwesterly direction along an unnamed
  creek approximately .23 Miles to a point located at 26 15 03
  Latitude and -98 26 05 Longitude.
         From the point located at 26 15 03 Latitude and -98 26 05
  Longitude follow in a westerly direction along an unnamed creek
  approximately .24 Miles to a point located at 26 15 04 Latitude and
  -98 26 19 Longitude.
         From the point located at 26 15 04 Latitude and -98 26 19
  Longitude turn right and follow in a straight line northeasterly
  approximately .97 Miles to a point located at 26 15 54 Latitude and
  -98 26 09 Longitude.
         From the point located at 26 15 54 Latitude and -98 26 09
  Longitude turn right and follow in a straight line
  easterly-southeasterly approximately .43 Miles to a point located
  at 26 15 50 Latitude and -98 25 45 Longitude.
         From a point located at 26 15 50 Latitude and -98 25 45
  Longitude turn right and follow in a straight line southwesterly
  approximately 1.03 Miles to a point located at 26 14 57 Latitude and
  -98 25 55 Longitude and Place of Beginning.
         SECTION 9.13.  Initial directors of the board of the Agua
  Special Utility District shall be appointed in accordance with
  Section 7201.051, Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by
  this Act, as soon as practicable after the effective date of this
  Act.
         SECTION 9.14.  Except as otherwise provided by Chapter 7201,
  Special District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act, the Agua
  Special Utility District is subject to:
               (1)  any judicial or administrative order imposing an
  injunction against the La Joya Water Supply Corporation that is in
  effect on the date of the transfer under Section 7201.021, Special
  District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act; or
               (2)  any judicial or administrative order imposing
  liability for monetary damages or a civil or administrative penalty
  against the La Joya Water Supply Corporation that:
                     (A)  results from a legal proceeding that is
  pending on the date of the transfer under Section 7201.021, Special
  District Local Laws Code, as amended by this Act; or
                     (B)  is unsatisfied on the date of the transfer
  under Section 7201.021, Special District Local Laws Code, as
  amended by this Act.
         SECTION 9.15.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to
  introduce the article of this Act that amends Chapter 7201, Special
  District Local Laws Code, setting forth the general substance of
  the article, has been published as provided by law, and the notice
  and a copy of the article have been furnished to all persons,
  agencies, officials, or entities to which they are required to be
  furnished under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and
  Chapter 313, Government Code.
         (b)  The governor has submitted the notice and article to the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
         (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
  its recommendations relating to this article with the governor,
  lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
  within the required time.
         (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
  state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
  to the notice, introduction, and passage of this article are
  fulfilled and accomplished.
         SECTION 9.16.  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 10.  TRUE RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1
         SECTION 10.01.  Subtitle F, Title 6, Special District Local
  Laws Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8269 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 8269. TRUE RANCH MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8269.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the board of directors of the
  district.
               (2)  "Director" means a board member.
               (3)  "District" means the True Ranch Municipal Utility
  District No. 1.
         Sec. 8269.002.  NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
  municipal utility district in Hays County created under and
  essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 8269.003.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION REQUIRED. If the
  creation of the district is not confirmed at a confirmation
  election held under Section 8269.023 before September 1, 2012:
               (1)  the district is dissolved September 1, 2012,
  except that:
                     (A)  any debts incurred shall be paid;
                     (B)  any assets that remain after the payment of
  debts shall be transferred to Hays County; and
                     (C)  the organization of the district shall be
  maintained until all debts are paid and remaining assets are
  transferred; and
               (2)  this chapter expires September 1, 2015.
         Sec. 8269.004.  FINDINGS OF BENEFIT AND PUBLIC PURPOSE.
  (a)  All land and other property in the district will benefit from
  the works and projects to be accomplished by the district under
  powers conferred by Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
         (b)  The district is created to serve a public use and
  benefit.
         Sec. 8269.005.  INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. (a)  The
  district is initially composed of the territory described by
  Section 10.02 of the Act creating this chapter.
         (b)  The boundaries and field notes contained in Section
  10.02 of the Act creating this chapter form a closure. A mistake
  made in the field notes or in copying the field notes in the
  legislative process does not affect:
               (1)  the organization, existence, or validity of the
  district;
               (2)  the right of the district to impose taxes;
               (3)  the right of the district to issue bonds, notes, or
  other indebtedness or to pay the principal of and interest on a
  bond;
               (4)  the validity of the district's bonds, notes, or
  other indebtedness; or
               (5)  the legality or operation of the district or the
  board.
  [Sections 8269.006-8269.020 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER A-1. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8269.021.  TEMPORARY DIRECTORS. (a)  On or after
  September 1, 2007, a person who owns land in the district may submit
  a petition to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  requesting that the commission appoint as temporary directors the
  five persons named in the petition.
         (b)  The commission shall appoint as temporary directors the
  five persons named in the first petition received by the commission
  under Subsection (a).
         (c)  If a temporary director fails to qualify for office or
  if a vacancy occurs in the office of temporary director, the vacancy
  shall be filled as provided by Section 49.105, Water Code.
         (d)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
               (1)  the date directors are elected under Section
  8269.023; or
               (2)  the date this chapter expires under Section
  8269.003.
         Sec. 8269.022.  ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF TEMPORARY
  DIRECTORS. As soon as practicable after all the temporary
  directors have qualified under Section 49.055, Water Code, the
  directors shall meet at a location in the district agreeable to a
  majority of the directors. If a location cannot be agreed upon, the
  meeting shall be at the Hays County Courthouse. At the meeting, the
  temporary directors shall elect officers from among the temporary
  directors and conduct any other district business.
         Sec. 8269.023.  CONFIRMATION AND INITIAL DIRECTORS'
  ELECTION. (a)  The temporary directors shall hold an election to
  confirm the creation of the district and to elect five directors as
  provided by Section 49.102, Water Code.
         (b)  Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does not apply to a
  confirmation and initial directors' election held under this
  section.
         Sec. 8269.024.  INITIAL ELECTED DIRECTORS; TERMS. The
  directors elected under Section 8269.023 shall draw lots to
  determine which two serve until the first regularly scheduled
  election of directors under Section 8269.052 and which three shall
  serve until the second regularly scheduled election of directors.
         Sec. 8269.025.  DATE OF FIRST REGULARLY SCHEDULED ELECTION
  OF DIRECTORS. The board by order may postpone the first election
  under Section 8269.052 following the confirmation and initial
  directors' election held under Section 8269.023 if:
               (1)  the election would otherwise occur not later than
  the 60th day after the date on which the confirmation election is
  held; or
               (2)  the board determines that there is not sufficient
  time to comply with the requirements of law and to order the
  election.
         Sec. 8269.026.  EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  expires September 1, 2015.
  [Sections 8269.027-8269.050 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS
         Sec. 8269.051.  DIRECTORS; TERMS. (a)  The district is
  governed by a board of five directors.
         (b)  Directors serve staggered four-year terms.
         Sec. 8269.052.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. On the uniform
  election date in May of each even-numbered year, the appropriate
  number of directors shall be elected.
  [Sections 8269.053-8269.100 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 8269.101.  GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES. The district has
  the powers and duties necessary to accomplish the purposes for
  which the district is created.
         Sec. 8269.102.  MUNICIPAL UTILITY DISTRICT POWERS AND
  DUTIES. The district has the powers and duties provided by the
  general law of this state, including Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code,
  applicable to municipal utility districts created under Section 59,
  Article XVI, Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 8269.103.  ROAD PROJECTS. (a)  To the extent
  authorized by Section 52, Article III, Texas Constitution, the
  district may construct, acquire, improve, maintain, or operate
  arterials or main feeder roads or improvements in aid of those
  roads.
         (b)  A road project must meet all applicable construction
  standards, zoning and subdivision requirements, and regulatory
  ordinances of the municipality or county in whose jurisdiction the
  district is located.
         Sec. 8269.104.  COMPLIANCE WITH MUNICIPAL CONSENT
  ORDINANCES OR RESOLUTIONS. Subject to the limitations of Section
  54.016, Water Code, the district shall comply with all valid and
  applicable requirements of any ordinance or resolution adopted by a
  municipality in the corporate limits or extraterritorial
  jurisdiction of which the district is located, including an
  ordinance or resolution adopted before September 1, 2007, that
  consents to the creation of the district or to the inclusion of
  lands within the district.
  [Sections 8269.105-8269.150 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8269.151.  ELECTIONS REGARDING TAXES OR BONDS.
  (a)  Except as provided by Section 8269.201(b), the district may
  issue, without an election, bonds and other obligations secured by
  revenue or contract payments from any source other than ad valorem
  taxation.
         (b)  The district must hold an election in the manner
  provided by Chapters 49 and 54, Water Code, to obtain voter approval
  before the district may impose an operation and maintenance tax or
  issue bonds payable from ad valorem taxes.
         Sec. 8269.152.  OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE TAX. (a)  If
  authorized at an election held under Section 8269.151, the district
  may impose an operation and maintenance tax on taxable property in
  the district in accordance with Section 49.107, Water Code.
         (b)  The board shall determine the tax rate. The rate may not
  exceed the rate approved at the election.
  [Sections 8269.153-8269.200 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER E. BONDS AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS
         Sec. 8269.201.  AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BONDS AND OTHER
  OBLIGATIONS. (a)  The district may issue bonds or other
  obligations payable wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes, impact
  fees, revenue, grants, or other district money, or any combination
  of those sources, to pay for any authorized district purpose.
         (b)  The district may not issue bonds to finance projects
  authorized by Section 8269.103 unless the issuance is approved by a
  vote of a two-thirds majority of the voters of the district voting
  at an election called for that purpose.
         (c)  Bonds or other obligations issued or incurred to finance
  projects authorized by Section 8269.103 may not exceed one-fourth
  of the assessed value of the real property in the district.
         Sec. 8269.202.  TAXES FOR BONDS. At the time bonds payable
  wholly or partly from ad valorem taxes are issued:
               (1)  the board shall impose a continuing direct annual
  ad valorem tax, without limit as to rate or amount, for each year
  that all or part of the bonds are outstanding; and
               (2)  the district annually shall impose an ad valorem
  tax on all taxable property in the district in an amount sufficient
  to:
                     (A)  pay the interest on the bonds as the interest
  becomes due;
                     (B)  create a sinking fund for the payment of the
  principal of the bonds when due or the redemption price at any
  earlier required redemption date; and
                     (C)  pay the expenses of imposing the taxes.
         SECTION 10.02.  The True Ranch Municipal Utility District
  No. 1 includes all the territory contained in the following area:
  BEING ALL THAT CERTAIN TRACT OR PARCEL OF LAND CONTAINING 465.71
  ACRES, MORE OR LESS, OF LAND AREA IN THE JOHN INGRAIM SURVEY,
  ABSTRACT NO. 256, HAYS COUNTY, TEXAS, BEING A PORTION OF THAT TRACT
  DESCRIBED AS 1279.69 ACRES IN A DEED FROM LESLIE TRUE VESPER ET AL
  TO LESLIE TRUE VESPER DATED AUGUST 10, 1992 AND RECORDED IN VOLUME
  948, PAGE 789 OF THE HAYS COUNTY OFFICIAL PUBLIC RECORDS, AND BEING
  MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED BY METES AND BOUNDS AS FOLLOWS:
         BEGINNING at a ½" iron rod found in the southwest line of R.M.
  Highway No. 2325 and that tract described as an 80' R.O.W. in a deed
  from Cecil H. Hale, et al to the State of Texas dated August 29, 1956
  and recorded in Volume 169, Page 304 of the Hays County Deed Records
  for the most northerly northwest corner of the panhandle portion of
  this description and the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract and east corner
  of that tract described as 592.30 acres in a deed from Leslie True
  Vesper et al to Ameritrust Texas, N.A., Trustee dated August 10,
  1992 and recorded in Volume 949, Page 572 of the Hays County
  Official Public Records, from which a TXDOT concrete monument found
  bears N 69°45'42" W 162.75 feet;
         THENCE leaving the Ameritrust Texas 592.30 acre tract and the
  PLACE OF BEGINNING as shown on that plat numbered 24587-06-3-d
  dated May 30, 2006 prepared for Leslie Vesper by Byrn & Associates,
  Inc., of San Marcos, Texas with the common northeast line of the
  Vesper 1279.69 acre tract and southwest line of R.M. Highway No.
  2325 and the State of Texas 80' R.O.W. tract S 69°48'34" E 599.94
  feet to a ½" iron rod set for the northwest corner of that tract
  described as "Tract 1-1.00 acres" in a deed from Thomas W. Slaughter
  et ux to Randy C. Brown et ux dated February 12, 1996 and recorded in
  Volume 1206, Page 780 of the Hays County Official Public Records,
  from which A TXDOT concrete monument found bears S 69°47'57" E
  120.11 feet;
         THENCE leaving R.M. Highway No. 2325 and the State of Texas
  80' R.O.W. tract with the common east line of the Vesper 1279.69
  acre tract and west and south lines of the Brown 1.00 acre Tract 1
  the following two courses:
         1.  S 20°06'33" W 226.56 feet to a 2.5" pipe fence corner post
  found for corner, and
         S 69°41'58" E 234.42 feet to a 2" pipe fence corner post found
  in the west line of that tract described as "Tract 2-5.347 acres" in
  the previously mentioned deed to Randy C. Brown et ux for the
  southeast comer of the Brown 1.00 acre Tract 1;
         THENCE leaving the Brown 1.00 acre Tract 1 and continuing
  with the common east line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract and west
  line of the Brown 5.347 acre Tract 2, as fenced and used, the
  following three courses:
         S 00°10'12" E 410.74 feet to a ½" iron rod set at the
  approximate centerline of an underground pipeline for angle point,
         S 00°04'22" E 196.11 feet to a 2.5" pipe fence post found for
  angle point, and
         S 00°24'09" E 15.83 feet to an iron rod found with an aluminum
  cap stamped "Pro-Tech Eng" at fence corner for the southwest corner
  of the Brown 5.347 acre Tract 2 and northwest corner of the
  remaining portion of that tract described as 187.78 acres in a deed
  from Henry Polvado & Lillie Polvado to Wesley Springs dated May 6,
  1983 and recorded in Volume 393, Page 570 of the Hays County Deed
  Records (the Brown 5.347 acre Tract 2 being a portion of the Springs
  187.78 acre tract);
         THENCE leaving the Brown 5.347 acre Tract 2 and continuing
  with the east line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract and west line of
  the Springs 187.78 acre tract, as fenced and used, the following
  three courses:
         S 00°00'57" E 1012.24 feet to a 2.5" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         S 00°06'57" W 908.05 feet to a 4" pipe fence corner post found
  for angle point, and
         S 00°03'12" E 354.80 feet to a 4" pipe fence corner post found
  for the southwest corner of the springs 187.78 acre tract and
  northwest corner of that tract described as 126.97 acres in a deed
  from Stanual W. Farris to the Stanual W. Farris Living Trust dated
  March 10, 2005 and recorded in Volume 2646, Page 385 of the Hays
  County Official Public Records;
         THENCE leaving the Springs 187.78 acre tract and continuing
  with the common east line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract and west
  line of Farris Living Trust 126.97 acre tract, as fenced and used,
  the following three courses:
         S 00°12'25" W 952.36 feet to a 4" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         S 00°09'57"W 1087.12 feet to a 4" cedar post found for angle
  point, and
         S 00°22'11" W 1072.11 feet to a ½" iron rod found at fence
  corner for the southwest corner of the Farris Living Trust 126.97
  acre tract and northwest corner of that tract described as 32.03
  acres in a deed from Phil Harris to Shannon Harris dated April 8,
  1998 and recorded in Volume 1463, Page 335 of the Hays County
  Official Public Records;
         THENCE leaving the Farris Living Trust 126.97 acre tract and
  continuing with the common east line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre
  tract and west line of the Shannon Harris 32.03 acre tract, as
  fenced and used, S 00°44'10"W 120.44 feet to a 4" cedar fence corner
  post found for the southwest corner of the Shannon Harris 32.03 acre
  tract and northwest corner of that tract described as 28.92 acres in
  a deed from A.J. Farris et ux to Philip D. Farris dated July 18, 1991
  and recorded in Volume 882, page 620 of the Hays County Official
  Public Records;
         THENCE leaving the Shannon Harris 32.03 acre tract and
  continuing with the common east line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre
  tract and west line of the Philip D. Farris 28.92 acre tract, as
  fenced and used, S 00°24'02" W 279.19 feet to a ½" iron rod found at
  fence corner for the southeast corner of this description and
  northeast corner of that tract described as 52.30 acres in a deed
  from Leslie True Vesper to Paul R. Eastup et ux dated June 5, 1996
  and recorded in Volume 1240, Page 309 of the Hays County Official
  Public Records (the Eastup 52.30 acre tract being a portion of the
  Vesper 1279.69 acre tract);
         THENCE leaving the Phillip D. Farris 28.92 acre tract and
  entering the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract with the north line of the
  Eastup 52.30 acre tract, N 87°10'57" W 1356.38 feet to a ½" iron rod
  found in fence for the northwest corner of the Eastup 52.03 acre
  tract and northeast corner of that tract described as 209.16 acres
  in a deed from Leslie True Vesper to James Nicholas Edwards and Lynn
  S. Edwards dated July 6, 2005 and recorded in Volume 2719, Page 740
  of the Hays County Official Public Record (the Edwards 209.16 acre
  tract being a portion of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract);
         THENCE leaving the Eastup 52.30 acre tract with the north
  line of the Edwards 209.16 acre tract, as fenced and used, the
  following five courses:
         N 87°19'31" W 665.61 feet to a 4" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         N 86°58'45" W 535.67 feet to a 3" cedar fence post found for
  angle point,
         N 87°09'05" W 302.22 feet to a 3" cedar fence post found for
  angle point,
         N 87°26'23" W 724.92 feet to a 4" cedar fence post found for
  angle point, and
         N 86°46'01" W 426.90 feet to a ½" iron rod found with a plastic
  cap stamped "Byrn Survey" in the east line of that tract described
  as 504.13 acres in a deed from Leslie True Vesper to James L. Pierce
  and David L. Pierce dated February 8, 1999 and recorded in Volume
  1500, Page 452 of the Hays County Official Public Records (the
  Pierce 504.13 acre tract being a portion of the Vesper 1279.69 acre
  tract);
         THENCE leaving the Edwards 209.16 acre tract with the east
  line of the Pierce 504.13 acre tract the following two courses:
         N 08°19'22" E 124.79 feet to a ½" iron rod found with a plastic
  cap stamped "Byrn Survey" for corner, and
         N 87°41'56" W 751.30 feet to a ½" iron rod found with a plastic
  cap stamped "Byrn Survey" for the southwest corner of this
  description, an interior corner in the east line of the Pierce
  504.13 acre tract, and the south corner of that tract described as
  10.59 acres in a deed from Leslie True Vesper to James L. Pierce and
  David L. Pierce dated June 15, 2001 and recorded in Volume 1872,
  Page 802 of the Hays County Official Public Records (the Pierce
  10.59 acre tract being a portion of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract);
         THENCE leaving the Pierce 504.13 acre tract with the east
  line of Pierce 10.59 acre tract the following two courses:
         N 05°37'42" E (being the bearing basis for description) 734.58
  feet to a ½" iron rod found with a plastic cap stamped "Byrn Survey"
  for angle point, and
         N 16°12'16" E 1026.26 feet to a 16" cedar tree stump found in
  fence in the east line of the previously mentioned Pierce 504.13
  acre tract for the north corner of the Pierce 10.59 acre tract;
         THENCE leaving the Pierce 10.59 acre tract and continuing
  with the east line of the Pierce 504.13 acre tract, as fenced and
  used, the following eight courses:
         N 20°34'38" E 42.67 feet to a 16" cedar tree stump found for
  angle point,
         N 15°43'09" E 241.85 feet to a 12" cedar tree stump found for
  angle point,
         N 08°41'46" E 86.90 feet to a 14" cedar tree stump found for
  angle point,
         N 07°33'58" E 244.38 feet to a 2.5" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         N 24°14'46" E 623.77 feet to a 6" cedar fence post found for
  angle point,
         N 24°15'46" E 420.45 feet to a 2.5" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         N 12°52'45" E 194.02 feet to a 2.5" pipe fence post found for
  angle point, and
         N 01°30'08" E 340.55 feet to a 4" pipe fence corner post found
  in the south line of the previously mentioned Ameritrust Texas
  592.30 acre tract and north line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract
  for the northeast corner of the Pierce 504.13 acre tract and
  exterior west corner of this description;
         THENCE leaving the Pierce 504.13 acre tract with the common
  north line of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract, and south line of the
  Ameritrust Texas 592.30 acre tract, as fenced and used, the
  following six courses:
         N 73°32'00" E 130.18 feet to a 4" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         S 48°36'36" E 170.02 feet to a ½" iron rod found for angle
  point,
         S 76°17'07" E 88.03 feet to a 4" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         S 86°44'44" E 798.24 feet to a 4" pipe fence post found for
  angle point,
         S 86°55'19" E 913.16 feet to a 4" pipe fence post found for
  angle point, and
         S 86°56'50" E 421.51 feet to a ½" iron rod found for the
  southeast corner of the Ameritrust Texas 592.30 acre tract and
  southwest corner of the panhandle portion of this description and
  the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract;
         THENCE leaving the fence with the common west line of the
  panhandle portion of the Vesper 1279.69 acre tract and east line of
  the Ameritrust Texas 592.30 acre tract the following two courses:
         N 00°00'32" E 1999.62 feet to a ½" iron rod found for angle
  point, and
         N 32°23'54" E 1152.96 feet to the PLACE OF BEGINNING.
         THERE are contained within these metes and bounds 465.71
  acres, more or less, as prepared from public records and surveys
  made on the ground in 1999, 2001, 2005 and on May 30, 2006 by Byrn &
  Associates, Inc., of San Marcos, Texas. All ½" iron rods set are
  capped with a plastic cap stamped "Byrn Survey".
         SECTION 10.03.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to
  introduce this article, setting forth the general substance of this
  article, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
  copy of this article have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
  officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
  under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
  Government Code.
         (b)  The governor, one of the required recipients, has
  submitted the notice and article to the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality.
         (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
  its recommendations relating to this article with the governor, the
  lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives within the required time.
         (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
  state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
  to the notice, introduction, and passage of this article are
  fulfilled and accomplished.
         SECTION 10.04.  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 11. TABLEROCK GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
         SECTION 11.01.  Subtitle H, Title 6, Special District Local
  Laws Code, is amended by adding Chapter 8823 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 8823. TABLEROCK GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8823.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the district's board of directors.
               (2)  "Director" means a board member.
               (3)  "District" means the Tablerock Groundwater
  Conservation District.
         Sec. 8823.002.  NATURE OF DISTRICT. The district is a
  groundwater conservation district in Coryell County created under
  and essential to accomplish the purposes of Section 59, Article
  XVI, Texas Constitution.
         Sec. 8823.003.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION REQUIRED. (a)  If the
  creation of the district is not confirmed at a confirmation
  election held before September 1, 2012:
               (1)  the district is dissolved on September 1, 2012,
  except that the district shall:
                     (A)  pay any debts incurred;
                     (B)  transfer to Coryell County any assets that
  remain after the payment of debts; and
                     (C)  maintain the organization of the district
  until all debts are paid and remaining assets are transferred; and
               (2)  this chapter expires September 1, 2012.
         (b)  This section expires September 1, 2012.
         Sec. 8823.004.  INITIAL DISTRICT TERRITORY. The initial
  boundaries of the district are coextensive with the boundaries of
  Coryell County, Texas.
         Sec. 8823.005.  CONSTRUCTION OF CHAPTER. This chapter shall
  be liberally construed to achieve the legislative intent and
  purposes of Chapter 36, Water Code. A power granted by Chapter 36,
  Water Code, or this chapter shall be broadly interpreted to achieve
  that intent and those purposes.
         Sec. 8823.006.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER GROUNDWATER
  CONSERVATION DISTRICT LAW. Except as otherwise provided by this
  chapter, Chapter 36, Water Code, applies to the district.
  [Sections 8823.007-8823.020 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER A-1. TEMPORARY PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8823.021.  APPOINTMENT OF TEMPORARY DIRECTORS.
  (a)  Not later than the 45th day after the effective date of this
  chapter, five temporary directors shall be appointed as follows:
               (1)  the Coryell County Commissioners Court shall
  appoint one temporary director from each of the four commissioners
  precincts in the county to represent the precincts in which the
  temporary directors reside; and
               (2)  the county judge of Coryell County shall appoint
  one temporary director who resides in the district to represent the
  district at large.
         (b)  If there is a vacancy on the temporary board, the
  authority who appointed the temporary director whose position is
  vacant shall appoint a person to fill the vacancy.
         (c)  Temporary directors serve until the earlier of:
               (1)  the time the temporary directors become initial
  directors as provided by Section 8823.024; or
               (2)  the date this chapter expires under Section
  8823.003.
         Sec. 8823.022.  ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF TEMPORARY
  DIRECTORS. As soon as practicable after all the temporary
  directors have qualified under Section 36.055, Water Code, a
  majority of the temporary directors shall convene the
  organizational meeting of the district at a location within the
  district agreeable to a majority of the directors. If an agreement
  on location cannot be reached, the organizational meeting shall be
  at the Coryell County Courthouse.
         Sec. 8823.023.  CONFIRMATION ELECTION. (a)  The temporary
  directors shall hold an election to confirm the creation of the
  district.
         (b)  Section 41.001(a), Election Code, does not apply to a
  confirmation election held as provided by this section.
         (c)  Except as provided by this section, a confirmation
  election must be conducted as provided by Sections 36.017(b), (c),
  and (e)-(i), Water Code, and the Election Code. Section 36.017(d),
  Water Code, does not apply to the confirmation election.
         (d)  The ballot for the election must be printed in
  accordance with the Election Code and provide for voting for or
  against the proposition: "The creation of the Tablerock
  Groundwater Conservation District and the imposition of a
  maintenance tax at a rate not to exceed two cents on each $100 of
  assessed valuation of taxable property in the district."
         (e)  If a majority of the votes cast at the election are not
  in favor of the creation of the district, the temporary directors
  may hold a subsequent confirmation election. The subsequent
  election may not be held before the first anniversary of the date on
  which the previous election was held.
         (f)  The district may not impose a maintenance tax unless a
  majority of the votes cast at the election are in favor of the
  imposition of the maintenance tax.
         Sec. 8823.024.  INITIAL DIRECTORS. (a)  If creation of the
  district is confirmed at an election held under Section 8823.023,
  the temporary directors become the initial directors and serve for
  the terms provided by Subsection (b).
         (b)  The initial directors representing commissioners
  precincts 2 and 4 serve until the election of directors under
  Section 8823.025, and the initial directors representing
  commissioners precincts 1 and 3 and the at-large director serve
  until the next regularly scheduled election of directors under
  Section 8823.053.
         Sec. 8823.025.  INITIAL ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. On the
  uniform election date in November of the first even-numbered year
  after the year in which the creation of the district is confirmed at
  an election held under Section 8823.023, the district shall hold an
  election of two directors to replace the initial directors who,
  under Section 8823.024(b), serve until that election.
         Sec. 8823.026.  EXPIRATION OF SUBCHAPTER. This subchapter
  expires September 1, 2012.
  [Sections 8823.027-8823.050 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER B.  BOARD OF DIRECTORS
         Sec. 8823.051.  DIRECTORS; TERMS. (a)  The district is
  governed by a board of five directors.
         (b)  Directors serve staggered four-year terms.
         Sec. 8823.052.  METHOD OF ELECTING DIRECTORS. One director
  is elected from each county commissioners precinct in Coryell
  County and one director is elected at large.
         Sec. 8823.053.  ELECTION DATE. The district shall hold an
  election in the district to elect directors on the uniform election
  date in November of each even-numbered year.
         Sec. 8823.054.  QUALIFICATIONS FOR ELECTION. (a)  To be
  qualified for election as a director, a person must reside in the
  district.
         (b)  To be qualified for election as a director from a
  precinct, a person must reside in that precinct.
  [Sections 8823.055-8823.100 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
         Sec. 8823.101.  GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT POWERS
  AND DUTIES. Except as provided by this chapter, the district has
  the powers and duties provided by the general law of this state,
  including Chapter 36, Water Code, and Section 59, Article XVI,
  Texas Constitution, applicable to groundwater conservation
  districts.
         Sec. 8823.102.  REGISTRATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS FOR
  CERTAIN EXEMPT WELLS. The district may adopt rules that require the
  owner or operator of a well or class of wells exempt from permitting
  under Section 36.117, Water Code, to register the well with the
  district and, if the well is not exempt under Section 36.117(b)(1),
  Water Code, to report groundwater withdrawals from the well using
  reasonable and appropriate reporting methods and frequency.
         Sec. 8823.103.  WELL SPACING RULES; EXEMPTIONS. (a)  Except
  as provided by Subsection (b), the district shall exempt from the
  well spacing requirements adopted by the district any well that is
  completed on or before the effective date of those requirements.
         (b)  The district may provide by rule that a well may lose its
  exemption under this section if the well is modified in a manner
  that substantially increases the capacity of the well after the
  effective date of the well spacing requirements adopted by the
  district.
         (c)  Except as provided by this section, the district may
  require any well or class of wells exempt from permitting under
  Chapter 36, Water Code, to comply with the well spacing
  requirements adopted by the district. The district shall apply
  well spacing requirements uniformly to any well or class of wells
  based on the size or capacity of the well and without regard to the
  type of use of the groundwater produced by the well.
         Sec. 8823.104.  ADOPTION OF RULES AND ISSUANCE OF PERMITS.
  Before the district adopts a management plan, the district may
  adopt rules and issue permits.
         Sec. 8823.105.  CONTRACTS WITH OTHER GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
  (a)  The district and another governmental entity, including a
  river authority located in the district, may contract for the
  performance by that entity of a district function.
         (b)  The district may accept a loan from Coryell County to
  pay for any initial costs of the district, including costs related
  to a confirmation election.
         Sec. 8823.106.  NO EMINENT DOMAIN POWER. The district may
  not exercise the power of eminent domain.
         Sec. 8823.107.  DISTRICT TERRITORY REQUIREMENTS;
  DISSOLUTION OF DISTRICT. (a)  On September 1, 2011, the district
  boundaries must include at least one county adjacent to Coryell
  County.
         (b)  As soon as practicable after September 1, 2011, the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall determine whether
  the district complies with Subsection (a).
         (c)  If the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
  determines that the district does not comply with Subsection (a),
  the commission shall dissolve the district in accordance with
  Sections 36.304, 36.305, 36.307, 36.308, 36.309, and 36.310, Water
  Code, regardless of whether the district meets the criteria for
  dissolution under Section 36.304(a), Water Code.
         (d)  This section expires September 1, 2013.
  [Sections 8823.108-8823.150 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER D. GENERAL FINANCIAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 8823.151.  REVENUE. To pay the maintenance and
  operating costs of the district and to pay any bonds or notes issued
  by the district, the district may:
               (1)  impose an ad valorem tax at a rate that:
                     (A)  is approved by a majority of district voters
  voting at an election held for that purpose; and
                     (B)  does not exceed two cents on each $100 of
  assessed valuation of taxable property in the district;
               (2)  assess fees for services or for water withdrawn
  from nonexempt wells; or
               (3)  solicit and accept grants from any private or
  public source.
  [Sections 8823.152-8823.200 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER E. DISSOLUTION
         Sec. 8823.201.  ELECTION FOR DISSOLUTION. (a)  If the
  district has no outstanding bond or other long-term indebtedness,
  the district may be dissolved by a favorable vote of a majority of
  the registered voters of the district at an election held for that
  purpose.
         (b)  The board shall hold a dissolution election if the board
  receives a petition for dissolution signed by at least 50 percent of
  the registered voters in the district as computed by using the list
  of registered voters for Coryell County.
         (c)  If the district is dissolved under this section, the
  board shall:
               (1)  notify the Texas Commission on Environmental
  Quality and the secretary of state of the dissolution; and
               (2)  transfer title to any assets of the district to
  Coryell County.
         SECTION 11.02.  (a)  The legal notice of the intention to
  introduce this article, setting forth the general substance of this
  article, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a
  copy of this article have been furnished to all persons, agencies,
  officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished
  under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313,
  Government Code.
         (b)  The governor has submitted the notice and article to the
  Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
         (c)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed
  its recommendations relating to this article with the governor,
  lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives
  within the required time.
         (d)  All requirements of the constitution and laws of this
  state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect
  to the notice, introduction, and passage of this article are
  fulfilled and accomplished.
  ARTICLE 12.  EDWARDS AQUIFER AUTHORITY
         SECTION 12.01.  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 12.02.  Subsections (a), (c), (e), (f), and (h),
  Section 1.14, 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 12.03.  Subsection (g), Section 1.16, 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 12.04.  Subsection (b), Section 1.19, 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 12.05.  Subsection (a), Section 1.22, 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 12.06.  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 12.07.  Subsections (b), (h), and (i), Section 1.29,
  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 12.08.  Subsection (a), Section 1.45, 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 12.09.  Subsections (b) and (d), Section 1.14,
  Section 1.21, and Subsections (a), (c), and (d), Section 1.29,
  Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993,
  are repealed.
         SECTION 12.10.  (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 1.14, Chapter 626, Acts of the 73rd Legislature, Regular
  Session, 1993, as amended by 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 Act.
         (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 12.11.  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 12.12.  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 13. TERRITORY OF CULBERSON COUNTY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION
  DISTRICT
         SECTION 13.01.  Chapter 1075, Acts of the 75th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 1997, is amended by adding Section 3A to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 3A.  In addition to the portions of Culberson County
  included in the boundaries of the district on August 31, 2007, the
  boundaries of the district include all of the remaining territory
  in Culberson County.
         SECTION 13.02.  (a)  The annexation under Section 3A,
  Chapter 1075, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997,
  as added by this article, of the additional territory in Culberson
  County that was not included in the boundaries of the Culberson
  County Groundwater Conservation District on August 31, 2007, is
  subject to ratification at an election held under Section 36.328,
  Water Code, and this section in which only the voters residing in
  the territory to be annexed are eligible to vote.
         (b)  The board of directors of the Culberson County
  Groundwater Conservation District shall hold the ratification
  election on the first uniform election date that occurs after the
  effective date of this article that allows for compliance with the
  time requirements of the Election Code.
         (c)  If a majority of the voters voting at the ratification
  election vote in favor of the annexation, the Culberson County
  Groundwater Conservation District boundaries include all of
  Culberson County.
         (d)  If a majority of the voters voting at the ratification
  election do not vote in favor of the annexation, the Culberson
  County Groundwater Conservation District boundaries are unchanged
  and this article expires.
  ARTICLE 14.  EFFECTIVE DATE
         SECTION 14.01.  Except as otherwise provided by this Act,
  this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
 
 
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 3 passed the Senate on
  March 27, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0;
  May 24, 2007, Senate refused to concur in House amendments and
  requested appointment of Conference Committee; May 26, 2007, House
  granted request of the Senate; May 27, 2007, Senate adopted
  Conference Committee Report by the following vote:  Yeas 29,
  Nays 1.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
 
         I hereby certify that S.B. No. 3 passed the House, with
  amendments, on May 23, 2007, by the following vote:  Yeas 133,
  Nays 8, one present not voting; May 26, 2007, House granted request
  of the Senate for appointment of Conference Committee;
  May 28, 2007, House adopted Conference Committee Report by the
  following vote:  Yeas 113, Nays 28, two present not voting.
 
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
 
  Approved:
 
  ______________________________ 
             Date
 
 
  ______________________________ 
            Governor