By: Phillips (Senate Sponsor - Estes) H.B. No. 1919
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 6, 2015;
May 7, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs; May 12, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2015, sent
to printer.)
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
PerryX
ZaffiriniX
CreightonX
HallX
HinojosaX
KolkhorstX
RodrÃguezX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the applicability of certain provisions concerning
invasive species.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 66.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (n) to read as follows:
(n) A water transfer described by this subsection is not a
violation of this section. The department may not require a permit
under this section for a water transfer described by this
subsection. This subsection applies to a water transfer that meets
the following criteria:
(1) the transfer is through a water supply system,
including a related water conveyance, storage, or distribution
facility;
(2) the transfer is undertaken by a utility owned by a
political subdivision, including a water district or municipality;
and
(3) the transfer is described by one or more of the
following:
(A) a transfer from a water body in which there is
no known exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish or shellfish
population;
(B) a transfer of water into a water body in which
there is a known exotic harmful or potentially harmful fish or
shellfish population;
(C) a transfer of water directly to a water
treatment facility;
(D) a transfer of water that has been treated
prior to the transfer into a water body; or
(E) a transfer of water from a reservoir or
through a dam to address flood control or to meet water supply
requirements or environmental flow purposes.
SECTION 2. Section 66.0072, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) A water transfer described by this subsection is not a
violation of this section. The department may not require a permit
under this section for a water transfer described by this
subsection. This subsection applies to a water transfer that meets
the following criteria:
(1) the transfer is through a water supply system,
including a related water conveyance, storage, or distribution
facility;
(2) the transfer is undertaken by a utility owned by a
political subdivision, including a water district or municipality;
and
(3) the transfer is described by one or more of the
following:
(A) a transfer from a water body in which there is
no known exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic plant
population;
(B) a transfer of water into a water body in which
there is a known exotic harmful or potentially harmful aquatic
plant population;
(C) a transfer of water directly to a water
treatment facility;
(D) a transfer of water that has been treated
prior to the transfer into a water body; or
(E) a transfer of water from a reservoir or
through a dam to address flood control or to meet water supply
requirements or environmental flow purposes.
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, 2015.
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