Bill Text: TX SB958 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the liability of certain special-purpose districts or authorities providing water to a purchaser for the generation of electricity.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2013-06-14 - Effective immediately [SB958 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-SB958-Comm_Sub.html
 
 
  By: Fraser S.B. No. 958
 
  (Keffer)
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the liability of certain special-purpose districts or
  authorities providing water to a purchaser for the generation of
  electricity.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 5, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, is
  amended by adding Chapter 113 to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 113.  WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT CLAIM AGAINST LOCAL DISTRICT
  OR AUTHORITY
         Sec. 113.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Adjudicating a claim" means the bringing of a
  civil suit and prosecution to final judgment in court and includes
  the bringing of an authorized arbitration proceeding and
  prosecution to final resolution in accordance with any mandatory
  procedures established in the contract that is the subject of the
  dispute under Section 113.002.
               (2)  "Local district or authority" means a
  special-purpose district or authority, including a levee
  improvement district, drainage district, irrigation district,
  water improvement district, water control and improvement
  district, water control and preservation district, fresh water
  supply district, navigation district, special utility district,
  and river authority, and any conservation and reclamation district.
         Sec. 113.002.  WAIVER OF IMMUNITY TO SUIT FOR CLAIM
  REGARDING WATER SUPPLY CONTRACT. A local district or authority
  that enters into a written contract stating the essential terms
  under which the local district or authority is to provide water to a
  purchaser for use in connection with the generation of electricity
  waives sovereign immunity to suit for the purpose of adjudicating a
  claim that the local district or authority breached the contract by
  not providing water, or access to water, according to the
  contract's terms.
         Sec. 113.003.  REMEDIES. (a)  Except as provided by
  Subsection (b), remedies awarded in a proceeding adjudicating a
  claim under this chapter may include any remedy available for
  breach of contract that is not inconsistent with the terms of the
  contract, including the cost of cover and specific performance.
         (b)  Remedies awarded in a proceeding adjudicating a claim
  under this chapter may not include consequential or exemplary
  damages.
         Sec. 113.004.  NO WAIVER OF OTHER DEFENSES. This chapter
  does not waive a defense or a limitation on damages available to a
  party to a contract other than sovereign immunity to suit.
         Sec. 113.005.  NO WAIVER OF IMMUNITY TO SUIT IN FEDERAL
  COURT. This chapter does not waive sovereign immunity to suit in
  federal court.
         Sec. 113.006.  NO WAIVER OF IMMUNITY TO SUIT FOR TORT
  LIABILITY. This chapter does not waive sovereign immunity to suit
  for a cause of action for a negligent or intentional tort.
         Sec. 113.007.  NO NEW OR ADDITIONAL WATER RIGHTS. This
  chapter does not grant any user of water any new or additional
  rights to water or any new or additional priority to water rights.
  This chapter does not confer any rights inconsistent with the terms
  of the contract that is the subject of a dispute under Section
  113.002.
         Sec. 113.008.  AUTHORITY OF REGULATORY AGENCIES; COMPLIANCE
  WITH REGULATORY ORDER.  (a)  This chapter does not limit the
  authority of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality or any
  other state regulatory agency.
         (b)  Compliance with an order of the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality or any other state regulatory agency that
  expressly curtails water delivery to a specific electric generating
  facility is not considered a breach of contract for the purposes of
  this chapter.
         Sec. 113.009.  NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. (a)  This
  chapter waives sovereign immunity only for the benefit of:
               (1)  a party to the contract that is the subject of a
  dispute under Section 113.002; or
               (2)  the assignee of a party to the contract, if
  assignment of an interest in the contract is permitted by the terms
  of the contract.
         (b)  Except for an assignment described by Subsection
  (a)(2), a party authorized by this chapter to sue for a cause of
  action of breach of contract may not transfer or assign that cause
  of action to any person.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies
  only to a cause of action that accrues on or after the effective
  date of this Act. A cause of action that accrues before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         (b)  The change in law made by this Act does not waive
  sovereign immunity to suit for any claims related to or arising out
  of a contract that was the subject of litigation that was
  adjudicated or dismissed on the basis of sovereign immunity prior
  to the effective date of this Act.
         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, 2013.
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