| 1 | 1 | | 85R6068 DMS-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Elkins H.B. No. 2127 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the authority of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence |
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| 8 | 8 | | District to regulate certain water wells. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Section 8801.152, Special District Local Laws |
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| 11 | 11 | | Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 8801.152. CERTAIN GROUNDWATER USES EXEMPT. (a) The |
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| 13 | 13 | | permit requirements of this chapter do not apply to: |
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| 14 | 14 | | (1) a well regulated under Chapter 27, Water Code; |
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| 15 | 15 | | (2) a well with a casing diameter of less than five |
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| 16 | 16 | | inches that serves only a single-family dwelling; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (3) a well that complies with Subsection (b); and |
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| 18 | 18 | | (4) [(3)] any other well as provided by board rule. |
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| 19 | 19 | | (b) Notwithstanding any district rules applicable to a well |
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| 20 | 20 | | that serves only a single-family dwelling, a landowner may drill |
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| 21 | 21 | | and operate a well if: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (1) the well is located on the same property on which |
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| 23 | 23 | | the landowner's single-family dwelling is located; |
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| 24 | 24 | | (2) the well has a casing diameter of less than five |
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| 25 | 25 | | inches and is drilled not deeper than 150 feet; |
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| 26 | 26 | | (3) water from the well is used only for outdoor |
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| 27 | 27 | | watering of landscape plantings on the property; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | (4) the property served by the well has received Texas |
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| 29 | 29 | | Wildscapes certification from the Parks and Wildlife Department. |
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| 30 | 30 | | SECTION 2. Section 8801.152(b), Special District Local Laws |
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| 31 | 31 | | Code, as added by this Act, applies only to a well for which |
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| 32 | 32 | | drilling is commenced on or after the effective date of this Act. A |
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| 33 | 33 | | well for which drilling is commenced before the effective date of |
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| 34 | 34 | | this Act is subject to the law in effect on the date drilling is |
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| 35 | 35 | | commenced, and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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