Bill Text: TX SB1010 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Engrossed


Bill Title: Relating to rules adopted by groundwater conservation districts overlying a common aquifer.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-14 - Left pending in committee [SB1010 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB1010-Engrossed.html
 
 
  By: Perry S.B. No. 1010
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to rules adopted by groundwater conservation districts
  overlying a common aquifer.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 36.101, Water Code, is amended by adding
  Subsections (a-2) and (a-3) to read as follows:
         (a-2)  Except as provided by this subsection, a district that
  overlies a common aquifer and is in a groundwater management area
  with one or more districts that regulate levels of groundwater
  production similar to the level the district regulates may not make
  or enforce a rule under Subsection (a) unless the rule is similar to
  a rule made or enforced under Subsection (a) by the other district
  or districts that overlie the aquifer and are in the groundwater
  management area.  The district may make or enforce a rule that is
  not similar to a rule made or enforced by the other district or
  districts only if the district:
               (1)  is authorized by other law specifically to make or
  enforce the rule; or
               (2)  provides in the district's management plan
  developed under Section 36.1071 an explanation of the district's
  reasoning to support its making or enforcing the rule.
         (a-3)  A new district that overlies a common aquifer and is
  in a groundwater management area with one or more districts shall
  notify the district or districts of rules made by the new district.  
  Not later than the 60th day after the date the new district makes
  the rules, each district that overlies the common aquifer and is in
  a groundwater management area with the new district shall, as
  necessary to comply with Subsection (a-2), update the district's
  management plan with an explanation of the district's reasoning to
  support its enforcement of existing district rules.
         SECTION 2.  Section 36.1071(e), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (e)  In the management plan described under Subsection (a),
  the district shall:
               (1)  identify the performance standards and management
  objectives under which the district will operate to achieve the
  management goals identified under Subsection (a);
               (2)  specify, in as much detail as possible, the
  actions, procedures, performance, and avoidance that are or may be
  necessary to effect the plan, including specifications and proposed
  rules;
               (3)  include estimates of the following:
                     (A)  modeled available groundwater in the
  district based on the desired future condition established under
  Section 36.108;
                     (B)  the amount of groundwater being used within
  the district on an annual basis;
                     (C)  the annual amount of recharge from
  precipitation, if any, to the groundwater resources within the
  district;
                     (D)  for each aquifer, the annual volume of water
  that discharges from the aquifer to springs and any surface water
  bodies, including lakes, streams, and rivers;
                     (E)  the annual volume of flow into and out of the
  district within each aquifer and between aquifers in the district,
  if a groundwater availability model is available;
                     (F)  the projected surface water supply in the
  district according to the most recently adopted state water plan;
  and
                     (G)  the projected total demand for water in the
  district according to the most recently adopted state water plan;
  [and]
               (4)  consider the water supply needs and water
  management strategies included in the adopted state water plan; and
               (5)  if applicable under Section 36.101(a-2), explain
  the district's reasoning to support its making or enforcing under
  Section 36.101(a) a rule that is not similar to a rule made or
  enforced by another district described by Section 36.101(a-2).
         SECTION 3.  A groundwater conservation district described by
  Section 36.101(a-2), Water Code, as added by this Act, shall
  evaluate the existing rules of the district for compliance with
  that section.  Not later than December 1, 2019, if an existing rule
  does not comply with Section 36.101(a-2), Water Code, as added by
  this Act, and is not otherwise authorized by law, the groundwater
  conservation district shall update the district's management plan
  to include an explanation of the district's reasoning to support
  its enforcing the rule as required by that section.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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