By: Fraser S.B. No. 18
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to water management plans for certain special water
authorities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 49, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 49.2127 to read as follows:
Sec. 49.2127. WATER MANAGEMENT PLANS FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL
WATER AUTHORITIES. (a) In this section:
(1) "Authority" means a special water authority to
which this section applies under Subsection (b).
(2) "Firm water" means a supply of stored water that
could be supplied without shortage during each year of a simulated
repeat of the drought of record, while honoring all senior water
rights. During a drought of record, the supply of water for firm
water customers has a higher priority than that of interruptible
water customers.
(3) "Interruptible water" means a stored supply of
water for customers of an authority that must be curtailed before
the authority curtails firm water supplies.
(b) This section applies only to a special water authority
whose water management plan consists of a reservoir operation plan
for the operation of two water supply reservoirs and was:
(1) developed by an applicant for a permit under
Chapter 11; and
(2) originally required by a court order adjudicating
the water rights for those reservoirs.
(c) An authority's water management plan must:
(1) ensure that adequate firm water supplies are
available to meet the existing and projected demands of firm water
customers to the extent:
(A) provided by previously adjudicated water
rights; and
(B) other supplies are not available to the
authority to meet those firm water customer demands; and
(2) provide for curtailing water supplies under
interruptible commitments before requesting that firm water
customers institute voluntary drought contingency measures.
SECTION 2. A special water authority to which Section
49.2127, Water Code, as added by this Act, applies shall adopt or
amend its rules and its water management plan as required to
implement Section 49.2127, Water Code, as added by this Act.