By: Cyrier H.B. No. 3161
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prioritizing groundwater production.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 36.122, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 36.122.  EXPORT [TRANSFER] OF GROUNDWATER OUT OF
  DISTRICT.  (a)  Prior to exporting [If an application for a permit
  or an amendment to a permit under Section 36.113 proposes the
  transfer of] groundwater outside of a district's boundaries, the
  exporting person must first obtain a permit from the district-[may
  also consider the provisions of this section in determining whether
  to grant or deny the permit or permit amendment].
         (b)  A district may promulgate rules requiring a person to
  obtain a permit or an amendment to a permit [under Section 36.113]
  from the district for the export [transfer] of groundwater out of
  the district to:
               (1)  increase, on or after March 2, 1997, the amount of
  groundwater to be exported [transferred] under a continuing
  arrangement in effect before that date; or
               (2)  export [transfer] groundwater out of the district
  on or after March 2, 1997, under a new arrangement.
         (c)  Except as provided in Section 36.113(e) and subsection
  (l),
  the district may not impose more restrictive permit conditions
  on exporters [transporters] than the district imposes on existing
  in-district users.
         (d)  The district may impose a reasonable fee for processing
  an application under this section. The fee may not exceed fees that
  the district imposes for processing other applications under
  Section 36.113. An application filed to comply with this section
  shall be considered and processed under the same procedures as
  other applications for permits under Section 36.113 and shall be
  combined with applications filed to obtain a permit for in-district
  groundwater [water] use under Section 36.113 from the same
  applicant.
         (e)  The district may impose a reasonable fee or surcharge
  for an export fee using one of the following methods:
               (1)  a fee negotiated between the district and the
  exporter [transporter];
               (2)  a rate not to exceed the equivalent of the
  district's tax rate per hundred dollars of valuation for each
  thousand gallons of groundwater exported [water transferred] out of
  the district or 2.5 cents per thousand gallons of water, if the
  district assesses a tax rate of less than 2.5 cents per hundred
  dollars of valuation; or
               (3)  for a fee-based district, a 50 percent export
  surcharge, in addition to the district's production fee, for water
  groundwater exported [water transferred] out of the district.
         (f)  In reviewing a proposed export [transfer] of
  groundwater out of the district, the district shall consider:
               (1)  the availability of water in the district and in
  the proposed receiving area during the period for which the
  groundwater [water] supply is requested;
               (2)  the projected effect of the proposed export
  [transfer] on the district’s ability to achieve its desired future
  condition [aquifer conditions, depletion, subsidence, or effects
  on existing permit holders or other groundwater users within the
  district; and];
               (3)  factors identified in the applicable approved
  regional water plans that address the following:
                     (A)  the availability of feasible and practicable
  alternative supplies in the receiving area to the groundwater
  proposed for export;
                     (B)  proposed methods and efforts by the receiving
  area to avoid waste and implement water conservation and drought
  contingency measures;
                     (C)  the projected economic impact reasonably
  expected to occur in each area as a result of the export;
               (4)  the information required to be submitted by the
  applicant;
               (5)  the approved regional water plan and] approved
  district management plan]; and
               (6)  if the export is based on a contractual sale of
  water, the terms of the contract, including provisions for
  conservation, drought response and waste prevention.
         (g)  The district may not deny a permit based on the fact that
  the applicant seeks to export [transfer] groundwater outside of the
  district but may limit a permit issued under this section if
  conditions in Subsection (f) warrant the limitation, subject to
  Subsection (c).
         (h)  Export permits [In addition to conditions provided by
  Section 36.1131, the permit] shall specify:
               (1)  the amount of groundwater [water] that may be
  exported [transferred] out of the district; and
               (2)  the period for which the groundwater [water] may
  be exported [transferred].
         (i)  The period specified by Subsection (h)(2) shall be:
               (1)  at least three years if construction of a
  conveyance system has not been initiated prior to the issuance of
  the permit; [or]
               (2)  at least 30 years if construction of a conveyance
  system has been initiated prior to the issuance of the permit; or
               (3)  if the export is based on a contractual sale of
  water, no greater than the term of the contract, including any
  extension or renewal of the contract.
         (j)  A term under Subsection (i)(1) shall automatically be
  extended to the terms agreed to under Subsection (i)(2) if
  construction of a conveyance system is begun before the expiration
  of the initial term.
         (k)  Notwithstanding the period specified in Subsections (i)
  and (j) during which groundwater [water] may be exported
  [transferred] under a permit, a district may periodically review
  the amount of groundwater [water] that may be transferred under the
  permit and may limit the amount if additional factors considered in
  Subsection (f) warrant the limitation, subject to Subsection (c).
  The review described by this subsection may take place not more
  frequently than the period provided for the review or renewal of
  operating [regular] permits issued by the district. In its
  determination of whether to renew a permit issued under this
  section, the district shall consider relevant and current data for
  the conservation of groundwater resources and shall consider the
  permit in the same manner it would consider any other permit in the
  district.
         (l)  Any operating permit associated with an export permit
  is junior in priority to any other operating permit issued before
  the time the application for the export permit is accepted for
  filing, and any groundwater production reductions must be applied
  to operating permits associated with an export permit before they
  may be applied to any operating permit issued before the time the
  application for the export permit was accepted for filing [A
  district is prohibited from using revenues obtained under
  Subsection (e) to prohibit the transfer of groundwater outside of a
  district. A district is not prohibited from using revenues obtained
  under Subsection (e) for paying expenses related to enforcement of
  this chapter or district rules].
         (m)  A district may not prohibit the export of groundwater if
  the purchase was in effect on or before June 1, 1997.
         (n)  This section applies only to an export [a transfer] of
  groundwater [water] that is permitted after September 1, 1997.
         (o)  A district shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
  this section but may not adopt rules expressly prohibiting the
  export of groundwater.
         (p)  Subsection (e) does not apply to a district that is
  collecting an export fee or surcharge on March 1, 2001.
         [(q)     In applying this section, a district must be fair,
  impartial, and nondiscriminatory].
         SECTION 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect
  immediately if it 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 Act takes effect on September 1, 2015.