83R10705 SMH-D
By: Rodriguez S.B. No. 1500
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the criteria to be used by the Texas Water Development
Board in prioritizing applications for funds for the implementation
of water supply projects.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 15.9751 and 16.1311, Water Code, are
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 15.9751. PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN APPLICATIONS [WATER
CONSERVATION]. The board shall give priority to applications for
funds for the implementation of water supply projects in the state
water plan that meet one or more of the following criteria:
(1) the applicant is an entity [by entities] that:
(A) has [(1) have] already demonstrated
significant water conservation savings; or
(B) [(2)] will achieve significant water
conservation savings by implementing the proposed project for which
the financial assistance is sought;
(2) state funding is needed for the project;
(3) the project is designed to address a water supply
need that has already arisen or will arise in the short term;
(4) improved efficiency in the use of water will not
achieve the same results as the project;
(5) the project is cost-effective;
(6) the applicant has ensured that the water supplied
by the project will be used efficiently;
(7) the effect of the project on the environment will
be minimal;
(8) the project will not impair existing supplies of
surface water or groundwater; or
(9) the project will not impair springflows or
instream flows.
Sec. 16.1311. PRIORITY FOR CERTAIN APPLICATIONS [WATER
CONSERVATION]. The board shall give priority to applications for
funds for implementation of water supply projects in the state
water plan that meet one or more of the following criteria:
(1) the applicant is an entity [by entities] that:
(A) has [(1) have] already demonstrated
significant water conservation savings; or
(B) [(2)] will achieve significant water
conservation savings by implementing the proposed project for which
the financial assistance is sought;
(2) state funding is needed for the project;
(3) the project is designed to address a water supply
need that has already arisen or will arise in the short term;
(4) improved efficiency in the use of water will not
achieve the same results as the project;
(5) the project is cost-effective;
(6) the applicant has ensured that the water supplied
by the project will be used efficiently;
(7) the effect of the project on the environment will
be minimal;
(8) the project will not impair existing supplies of
surface water or groundwater; or
(9) the project will not impair springflows or
instream flows.
SECTION 2. Section 17.125(b-2), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b-2) The board shall give priority to applications for
funds for implementation of water supply projects in the state
water plan that meet one or more of the following criteria:
(1) the applicant is an entity [by entities] that:
(A) has [(1) have] already demonstrated
significant water conservation savings; or
(B) [(2)] will achieve significant water
conservation savings by implementing the proposed project for which
the financial assistance is sought;
(2) state funding is needed for the project;
(3) the project is designed to address a water supply
need that has already arisen or will arise in the short term;
(4) improved efficiency in the use of water will not
achieve the same results as the project;
(5) the project is cost-effective;
(6) the applicant has ensured that the water supplied
by the project will be used efficiently;
(7) the effect of the project on the environment will
be minimal;
(8) the project will not impair existing supplies of
surface water or groundwater; or
(9) the project will not impair springflows or
instream flows.
SECTION 3. This Act applies only to an application for
financial assistance filed with the Texas Water Development Board
on or after the effective date of this Act. An application for
financial assistance filed before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect on the date the application was filed,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.