Bill Text: TX HB352 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Comm Sub


Bill Title: Relating to the procedure by which a state agency may issue an opinion that a watercourse is navigable.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-05-03 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB352 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB352-Comm_Sub.html
  85R25288 JAM-F
 
  By: Murr, Workman H.B. No. 352
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 352:
 
  By:  Larson C.S.H.B. No. 352
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the procedure by which a state agency may issue an
  opinion that a watercourse is navigable.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Water Code, is amended
  by adding Section 11.098 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.098.  OPINION OF NAVIGABILITY; NOTICE AND MEETING.
  (a) Before a state agency, on its own or at the request of another
  governmental entity, may issue an opinion that a watercourse or a
  portion of a watercourse is a navigable stream for the purposes of
  this chapter, Chapter 21, Natural Resources Code, Chapter 138 (S.B.
  150), Acts of the 41st Legislature, Regular Session, 1929 (Article
  5414a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), or Chapter 232 (S.B. 269),
  Acts of the 54th Legislature, Regular Session, 1955 (Article
  5414a-1, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), the agency shall:
               (1)  either:
                     (A)  perform or have performed by a licensed state
  land surveyor a gradient boundary survey of the watercourse or
  portion of the watercourse at issue; or
                     (B)  obtain from the General Land Office a written
  opinion that a gradient boundary survey is not required in order to
  issue an opinion as to whether the watercourse or portion of the
  watercourse at issue is a navigable stream;
               (2)  provide to each person who owns land abutting or
  lying along, across, or partly across the watercourse or portion of
  the watercourse at issue written notice that:
                     (A)  provides the name and address of the state
  agency considering issuing the opinion on its own or the
  governmental entity seeking the opinion, as applicable;
                     (B)  identifies the geographic location of the
  watercourse or portion of the watercourse at issue and the common
  name of the watercourse;
                     (C)  specifies the date, time, and location of a
  public meeting to be held with regard to the opinion; and
                     (D)  gives any additional information the agency
  considers necessary; and
               (3)  at the date, time, and location stated in the
  notice provided under Subdivision (2), hold a public meeting in
  which:
                     (A)  any person may appear in person or by
  attorney or enter an appearance in writing;
                     (B)  any person who appears may present objection
  to or support for an opinion as to whether the watercourse or
  portion of the watercourse at issue is a navigable stream;
                     (C)  the agency receives evidence, orally or by
  affidavit, in support of or in opposition to the opinion; and
                     (D)  the agency provides information regarding
  the date and location at which the agency will issue the opinion.
         (b)  The meeting must be held in a publicly accessible
  location in a county in which the watercourse or portion of the
  watercourse at issue is located and on a date that allows a
  reasonable period after the notice of the meeting is provided but
  not earlier than the 45th day after the date the notice is provided.
         (c)  After the meeting, the agency shall deliver to each
  party to whom notice of the meeting is required to be given a
  written opinion as to whether the watercourse or portion of the
  watercourse at issue is a navigable stream. The opinion may be
  issued with respect to all or part of the watercourse or portion of
  the watercourse at issue.
         (d)  An opinion issued by a state agency as to whether a
  portion of a watercourse is a navigable stream does not affect the
  authority of that agency or another agency to issue an opinion as to
  whether another portion of that watercourse is a navigable stream.
         (e)  Any party that is aggrieved by an opinion issued under
  this section may appeal the opinion by filing a petition with the
  district court of a county in which the watercourse or portion of
  the watercourse at issue is located not later than the 60th day
  after the date the opinion is issued. The hearing in such an appeal
  before the district court shall be by trial de novo on all issues. A
  petition filed under this subsection must be served on the state
  agency that issued the opinion and on the governmental entity that
  requested the opinion, if applicable.
         (f)  This section does not apply to the reissuance by a state
  agency of an opinion as to whether a watercourse or portion of a
  watercourse is a navigable stream that was previously issued by the
  agency or another state agency, including the General Land Office.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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