Bill Text: TX HB721 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled


Bill Title: Relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and recovery and aquifer recharge projects.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 3-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-06-14 - Effective immediately [HB721 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB721-Enrolled.html
 
 
  H.B. No. 721
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct
  studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and
  recovery and aquifer recharge projects.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 11.155, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 11.155.  AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY AND AQUIFER
  RECHARGE REPORTS.  (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Aquifer recharge project" means a project
  involving the intentional recharge of an aquifer by means of an
  injection well authorized under Chapter 27 or other means of
  infiltration, including actions designed to:
                     (A)  reduce declines in the water level of the
  aquifer;
                     (B)  supplement the quantity of groundwater
  available;
                     (C)  improve water quality in an aquifer;
                     (D)  improve spring flows and other interactions
  between groundwater and surface water; or
                     (E)  mitigate subsidence.
               (2)  "Aquifer storage and recovery project" has the
  meaning assigned by Section 27.151.
         (b)  The board shall make studies, investigations, and
  surveys of the aquifers in the state [as it considers necessary] to
  determine the occurrence, quantity, quality, and availability of
  aquifers in which aquifer storage and recovery projects or aquifer
  recharge projects are feasible [water may be stored and
  subsequently retrieved for beneficial use].
         (c)  The board, working with appropriate interested persons,
  including river authorities and major water providers and water
  utilities, regional water planning groups, groundwater
  conservation districts, and potential public sponsors of aquifer
  storage and recovery projects or aquifer recharge projects, shall:
               (1)  conduct studies of aquifer storage and recovery
  projects and aquifer recharge projects identified in the state
  water plan or by interested persons; and
               (2)  report the results of each study conducted under
  Subdivision (1) to regional water planning groups and interested
  persons.
         (d)  This subsection expires January 1, 2021.  The board
  shall:
               (1)  conduct a statewide survey to identify the
  relative suitability of various major and minor aquifers for use in
  aquifer storage and recovery projects or aquifer recharge projects
  based on consideration of:
                     (A)  hydrogeological characteristics, with a
  focus on:
                           (i)  storage potential;
                           (ii)  transmissivity;
                           (iii)  infiltration characteristics;
                           (iv)  storativity;
                           (v)  recoverability; and
                           (vi)  water quality;
                     (B)  the frequency, volume, and distance from
  excess water available for potential storage; and
                     (C)  the current and future water supply needs
  identified in the state water plan;
               (2)  prepare a report that includes an overview of the
  survey conducted under Subdivision (1); and
               (3)  not later than December 15, 2020, submit the
  report described by Subdivision (2) to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, and speaker of the house of representatives [The board
  shall undertake the studies, investigations, and surveys in the
  following order of priority:
               [(1)     areas designated by the commission as "priority
  groundwater management areas" under Section 35.008; and
               [(2)     other areas of the state in a priority to be
  determined by the board's ranking of where the greatest need
  exists].
         SECTION 2.  The Texas Water Development Board is required to
  implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
  appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the
  legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
  purpose, the board may, but is not required to, implement a
  provision of this Act using other appropriations available for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 3.  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 September 1, 2019.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 721 was passed by the House on April
  10, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 1, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 721 on May 24, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 141, Nays 1, 2
  present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 721 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 22, 2019, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays
  0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor       
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