Bill Text: TX SB521 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Engrossed

Texas Senate Bill 521 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization relating to the use of state water.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2015-05-26 - Placed on General State Calendar [SB521 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB521-Engrossed.html



	By: Fraser, Watson	S.B. No. 521
	Zaffirini


	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the period for which the Texas Commission on
	Environmental Quality may grant or renew an emergency authorization
	relating to the use of state water.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Section 11.139, Water Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as
	follows:
	(a) Except as provided by Section 11.148 [~~of this code~~], the
	commission may grant an emergency permit, order, or amendment to an
	existing permit, certified filing, or certificate of adjudication
	after notice to the governor for an initial period of not more than
	270 [~~120~~] days if the commission finds that:
	(1) emergency conditions exist which present an
	imminent threat to the public health and safety and which override
	the necessity to comply with established statutory procedures; and
	(2) there are no feasible practicable alternatives to
	the emergency authorization.
	(a-1) Such emergency action may be renewed once for not
	longer than 60 days.
	SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to an application for an emergency authorization or renewal of an
	emergency authorization that is submitted to the Texas Commission
	on Environmental Quality on or after the effective date of this Act.
	An application for an emergency authorization or renewal of an
	emergency authorization that is submitted to the commission before
	the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
	immediately before the effective date of this Act, and that law is
	continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3. 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, 2015.