By: Larson, Villalba H.B. No. 2133
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to state policies and the evaluation of practices
regarding water development and conservation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 1.003, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 1.003. PUBLIC POLICY. It is the public policy of the
state to provide for the conservation and development of the
state's natural resources, including:
(1) the control, storage, preservation, and
distribution of the state's storm and floodwaters and the waters of
its rivers and streams for irrigation, power, and other useful
purposes;
(2) the reclamation and irrigation of the state's
arid, semiarid, and other land needing irrigation;
(3) the reclamation and drainage of the state's
overflowed land and other land needing drainage;
(4) the conservation and development of its forest,
water, and hydroelectric power;
(5) the navigation of the state's inland and coastal
waters;
(6) the maintenance of a proper ecological environment
of the bays and estuaries of Texas and the health of related living
marine resources;
(7) the voluntary stewardship of public and private
lands to benefit waters of the state; [and]
(8) the promotion of rainwater harvesting for potable
and nonpotable purposes at public and private facilities in this
state, including residential, commercial, and industrial
buildings;
(9) the facilitation of the efficient and effective
use of innovative and alternative water treatment technologies
whenever possible to meet the natural resource needs of this state;
and
(10) the promotion of direct reuse of reclaimed water
for nonpotable purposes whenever possible to enhance and preserve
the state's freshwater supply.
SECTION 2. Section 10.010, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 10.010. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council
shall:
(1) monitor trends in water conservation
implementation;
(2) monitor and evaluate new technologies for possible
inclusion by the board as best management practices in the best
management practices guide developed by the water conservation
implementation task force under Chapter 109, Acts of the 78th
Legislature, Regular Session, 2003;
(3) monitor the effectiveness of the statewide water
conservation public awareness program developed under Section
16.401 and associated local involvement in implementation of the
program;
(4) develop and implement a state water management
resource library;
(5) develop and implement a public recognition program
for water conservation;
(6) monitor the implementation of water conservation
strategies by water users included in regional water plans; and
(7) monitor target and goal guidelines for water
conservation to be considered by the board and commission.
(b) New technologies evaluated for possible inclusion in
the best management practices guide under Subsection (a)(2) must
include technologies associated with agricultural and landscaping
irrigation, plumbing retrofits, and hydraulic shock-prevention
systems.
SECTION 3. Section 10.011, Water Code, is amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 10.011. REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each
even-numbered year, the council shall submit to the governor,
lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives a
report on progress made in water conservation in this state. The
report must include specific statutory, budgetary, and policy
recommendations to improve water conservation and management.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.