Bill Text: TX HB898 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

Texas House Bill 898 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relating to the confidentiality of certain water well reports.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-02-25 - Referred to Natural Resources [HB898 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB898-Introduced.html

	84R5932 SGA-F

	By: Ashby	H.B. No. 898



	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the confidentiality of certain water well reports.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. The heading to Section 36.111, Water Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 36.111. RECORDS AND REPORTS; CONFIDENTIALITY.
	SECTION 2. Section 36.111, Water Code, is amended by adding
	Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c) A groundwater withdrawal report submitted by the owner
	or operator of a privately owned water well to a district that
	requires withdrawal reporting under Subsection (b) is not subject
	to public disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code, if the
	owner or operator of the well submits a written request to the
	district in which the well is located to have the well's withdrawal
	reports treated as confidential information. A district that
	receives a request for confidentiality may release groundwater
	production information contained in the reports only if the
	information is summarized in a manner that prevents the
	identification of individual well owners or operators or the parcel
	of land on which a well is located. This subsection does not apply
	to a well that is owned or operated by a public entity, including a
	conservation and reclamation district operating under Section 59,
	Article XVI, Texas Constitution, or a municipality.
	SECTION 3. Section 36.111, Water Code, as amended by this
	Act, applies only to a water well withdrawal report required to be
	filed with a groundwater conservation district on or after the
	effective date of this Act.
	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.