Eckhardt Water Bill Creates 12-Member Board, Final Report Due 2034

The text as introduced · 728 words

89R9362 KRM-D

By: Eckhardt
S.B. No. 976

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an advisory board to study surface

water and groundwater interaction.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "advisory board" means

the Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction Advisory Board.

SECTION 2. SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION

ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED. (a) The Surface Water and Groundwater

Interaction Advisory Board is established and consists of 12

persons as follows:

(1) the executive administrator of the Texas Water

Development Board;

(2) one person to represent the interests of the Texas

Commission on Environmental Quality, recommended by the Texas

Commission on Environmental Quality and appointed jointly by the

chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate

water, agriculture, and rural affairs committee;

(3) two persons to represent the interests of river

authorities, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and

appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources

committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs

committee;

(4) two persons to represent the interests of

groundwater conservation districts, recommended jointly by the

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water

Development Board and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house

natural resources committee and the senate water, agriculture, and

rural affairs committee;

(5) two persons with academic or specialist knowledge

in the area of surface water and groundwater interaction, with one

appointed by the chair of the house natural resources committee and

another appointed by the chair of the senate water, agriculture,

and rural affairs committee;

(6) one person to represent environmental interests or

the interests relating to the interaction of surface water and

groundwater, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on

Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and

appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources

committee and the senate water, agriculture, and rural affairs

committee;

(7) the chair of the house natural resources

committee;

(8) the chair of the senate water, agriculture, and

rural affairs committee; and

(9) one person from the office of the governor,

appointed by the governor.

(b) The executive administrator of the Texas Water

Development Board serves as the chair of the advisory board.

SECTION 3. PUBLIC MEETING. The advisory board shall hold at

least one public meeting each year in order to accept comments from

the public on matters studied by the advisory board.

SECTION 4. SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION STUDY.

(a) The advisory board shall study:

(1) the extent to which surface water and groundwater

interact in this state;

(2) challenges arising in this state from the

interaction of surface water and groundwater; and

(3) approaches to mitigating challenges arising in

this state from the interaction of surface water and groundwater.

(b) In conducting the study under this section, the advisory

board shall consult with:

(1) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;

(2) groundwater conservation districts; and

(3) river authorities.

SECTION 5. STUDY UPDATES AND REPORT; EXPIRATION OF ACT. (a)

Not later than December 1 of each year, the advisory board shall

submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the

house of representatives, and each member of the legislature an

annual status report on the progress of the study conducted under

Section 4 of this Act.

(b) Not later than December 1, 2034, the advisory board

shall deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker

of the house of representatives, and each member of the legislature

a final report on the determinations of the advisory board based on

the study conducted under Section 4 of this Act.

(c) The advisory board shall deliver to the governor, the

lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives,

or a member of the legislature information related to the annual

status report under Subsection (a) of this section or the final

report under Subsection (b) of this section on request.

(d) The advisory board is abolished and this Act expires

January 1, 2035.

SECTION 6. 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 September 1, 2025.