By: Springer S.B. No. 638
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the governance and decision-making of groundwater
  conservation districts in contested cases.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         Section 1. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.0015, subsection (b), is
  amended as follows:
         (b)  In order to provide for the conservation, preservation,
  protection, recharging, and prevention of waste of groundwater, and
  of groundwater reservoirs or their subdivisions, and to control
  subsidence caused by withdrawal of water from those groundwater
  reservoirs or their subdivisions, consistent with the objectives of
  Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, groundwater
  conservation districts may be created as provided by this chapter.
  Groundwater conservation districts created as provided by this
  chapter are the state's preferred method of groundwater management
  in order to protect property rights, balance the conservation and
  development of groundwater to meet the needs of this state, and use
  the best available science in the conservation and development of
  groundwater through rules and procedures developed, adopted, and
  promulgated by a district in accordance with the provisions of this
  chapter.
         Section 2. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.003 is added as
  follows:  
               36.003. IMPORTANCE OF GROUNDWATER TO THE STATE'S
  ECONOMIC GROWTH. The legislature recognizes that timely decisions
  regarding production and transport of private groundwater are
  essential to the state's continued economic development. Delays in
  such decisions substantially increase uncertainty and expense, and
  thereby have a detrimental impact on the state's ability to
  competitively attract businesses. Accordingly, districts should
  ensure timely decisions in accordance with the procedures set forth
  in this chapter.
         Section 3. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.051 is amended by adding
  subsection (c-1) as follows:  
         (c-1)  A director who has been recused from voting on more
  than one application for a permit or permit amendment or fails to
  attend meetings two consecutive meetings of the district board
  shall be disqualified from further service on the Board. The
  resulting vacant position shall be filled as provided by this
  chapter or as prescribed by the district's enabling legislation.
         Section 4. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.053 is amended as
  follows:  
         (a)  A majority of the membership of the board constitutes a
  quorum for any meeting, and a concurrence of a majority of the
  entire membership of the board is sufficient for transacting any
  business of the district, except as provided by subsection (b).
         (b)  For purposes of reaching a final decision on a permit or
  permit amendment application, any board member who is recused from
  voting or fails to attend shall not count towards the quorum or
  majority requirements set forth in subsection (a).
         Section 5. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.409 is amended as
  follows:  
         The presiding officer may continue a hearing from time to
  time and from place to place without providing notice under Section
  36.404; however, in no event shall such continuance exceed the time
  limits prescribed for issuance of a final decision as set forth in
  Section 36.4165. If the presiding officer continues a hearing
  without announcing at the hearing the time, date, and location of
  the continued hearing, the presiding officer must provide notice of
  the continued hearing by regular mail to the parties.
         Section 6. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.412 is amended as
  follows:  
         (a)  An applicant in a contested or uncontested hearing on an
  application or a party to a contested hearing may administratively
  appeal a decision of the board on a permit or permit amendment
  application. Except for decisions by the board under Section
  36.4165, a party seeking to appeal a decision by the board must
  request by requesting written findings and conclusions not later
  than the 20th day after the date of the board's decision.
         (b)  On receipt of a timely written request required by
  subsection (a), the board shall make written findings and
  conclusions regarding a decision of the board on a permit or permit
  amendment application. The board shall provide certified copies of
  the findings and conclusions to the person who requested them, and
  to each designated party, not later than the 35th day after the date
  the board receives the request.  
         (c)  A party to a contested hearing may request a rehearing
  not later than the 20th day after the date the board issues the
  findings and conclusions.
         (dc) A request for rehearing must be filed in the district
  office and must state the grounds for the request.  If the original
  hearing was a contested hearing, the party requesting a rehearing
  must provide copies of the request to all parties to the hearing.
         (ed) If the board grants a request for rehearing, the board
  shall schedule the rehearing not later than the 45th day after the
  date the request is granted.
         (fe) The failure of the board to grant or deny a request for
  rehearing before the 91st day after the date the request is
  submitted is a denial of the request.
         Section 7. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.413 is amended as
  follows:
         (a)  A decision by the board on a permit or permit amendment
  application is final:
               (1)  if a request for rehearing is not filed on time, on
  the expiration of the period for filing a request for rehearing; or
               (2)  if a request for rehearing is filed on time, on the
  date:
                     (A)  the board denies the request for rehearing;
  or
                     (B)  the board renders a written decision after
  rehearing, or
               (3)  as provided by section 36.4165(e).
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), an applicant or a
  party to a contested hearing may file a suit against the district
  under Section 36.251 to appeal a decision on a permit or permit
  amendment application not later than the 60th day after the date on
  which the decision becomes final.
         (c)  An applicant or a party to a contested hearing may not
  file suit against the district under Section 36.251 if a request for
  rehearing was not filed on time unless no such request is required
  under section 36.4165(e).
         Section 8. Texas Water Code Sec. 36.4165 is amended as
  follows:
         (a)  In a proceeding for a permit application or amendment in
  which a district has contracted with the State Office of
  Administrative Hearings for a contested case hearing, the board has
  the authority to make a final decision on consideration of a
  proposal for decision issued by an administrative law judge.
         (b)  A board may change a finding of fact or conclusion of law
  made by the administrative law judge, or may vacate or modify an
  order issued by the administrative judge, only if the board
  determines:
               (1)  that the administrative law judge did not properly
  apply or interpret applicable law, district rules, written policies
  provided under Section 36.416(e), or prior administrative
  decisions;
               (2)  that a prior administrative decision on which the
  administrative law judge relied is incorrect or should be changed;
  or
               (3)  that a technical error in a finding of fact should
  be changed.
         (c)  The final decision issued by the district under this
  section must be in writing and shall either adopt the proposed
  findings of fact and conclusions of law as proposed by the
  administrative law judge or include revised findings of fact and
  conclusions of law consistent with subsection (b). No request for
  findings of fact or conclusions of law from a party is required
  under this section.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other timelines provided in this
  chapter, and unless otherwise agreed to by the applicant, a
  district must issue its final decision under this section no later
  than 180 days after receipt of the proposal for decision, including
  final disposition of all motions for rehearing. 
         (e)  If the administrative law judge recommends granting one
  or more permits, and the district fails to issue its final decision
  as required by subsection (d) for any reason, the district shall be
  deemed to have adopted the recommendations of the administrative
  law judge as a final order.
         (f)  A decision under (e) is final and appealable immediately
  and not subject to a motion for rehearing.
         Section 9. STATUTORY INTERPRETATION. If there is a conflict
  between this Act and the enabling act of a groundwater conservation
  district or any other deadlines established by Chapter 36, this Act
  controls.
         Section 10. (a)  The changes in law made by this Act apply to
  any permit application that is filed with a district on or after the
  effective date of this Act and any permit application pending
  before a district for which a proposal for decision not yet been
  issued.
         (b)  Any proposal for decision that has been pending before a
  district for more than 180 days on the effective date and for which
  the administrative law judge recommends granting one or more
  permits, shall be deemed adopted as a final order subject to
  immediate appeal and not subject to a motion for rehearing.
         Section 11. 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, 2023.