Bill Text: TX SB78 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the matters to be considered in developing the state water plan.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs [SB78 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB78-Introduced.html
84R1572 SMH-F | ||
By: Ellis | S.B. No. 78 |
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relating to the matters to be considered in developing the state | ||
water plan. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 16.051(a-1) and (d), Water Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) The state water plan must include: | ||
(1) an assessment of the best available science | ||
related to trends in factors affecting: | ||
(A) future water availability, including | ||
precipitation, evaporation, storage capacity, and environmental | ||
flow needs; and | ||
(B) future water use, including technologies for | ||
water conservation, purification, and reuse; | ||
(2) an evaluation of the state's progress in meeting | ||
future water needs, including an evaluation of the extent to which | ||
water management strategies and projects implemented after the | ||
adoption of the preceding state water plan have affected that | ||
progress; and | ||
(3) [ |
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included in the preceding state water plan that received financial | ||
assistance from the board. | ||
(d) The board, in coordination with the commission, the | ||
Department of Agriculture, and the Parks and Wildlife Department, | ||
shall adopt by rule guidance principles for the state water plan | ||
which reflect the public interest of the entire state. When | ||
adopting guidance principles, due consideration shall be given to | ||
the best available science related to forecasting future water | ||
availability, the environmental flow standards and environmental | ||
flow set-asides adopted by the commission under Section 11.1471, | ||
the construction and improvement of surface water and groundwater | ||
resources, and the application of principles that result in | ||
voluntary redistribution of water resources. The board shall | ||
review and update the guidance principles, with input from the | ||
commission, the Department of Agriculture, and the Parks and | ||
Wildlife Department, as necessary but at least every five years to | ||
coincide with the five-year cycle for adoption of a new water plan | ||
as described in Subsection (a). | ||
SECTION 2. This Act applies to the state water plan required | ||
to be adopted by the Texas Water Development Board beginning with | ||
the 2017 state water plan. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |