Bill Text: TX SB78 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the matters to be considered in developing the state water plan.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to Agriculture, Water, & Rural Affairs [SB78 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-SB78-Introduced.html

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84R1572 SMH-F
By: Ellis S.B. No. 78

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
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) [(2)] an analysis of the number of projects
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.