| 1 | 1 | | 86R8014 AAF-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Zwiener H.B. No. 1304 |
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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 Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District; |
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| 8 | 8 | | authorizing a fee. |
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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. Sections 8843.104 and 8843.153, Special District |
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| 11 | 11 | | Local Laws Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 8843.104. PERMIT REQUIRED; EXEMPT USE [WELLS]. (a) |
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| 13 | 13 | | The district may not require a permit to drill or operate |
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| 14 | 14 | | [Groundwater withdrawals from the following wells may not be |
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| 15 | 15 | | regulated, permitted, or metered by the district]: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (1) a well used for domestic use by a single-family |
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| 17 | 17 | | [single private] residential household and incapable of producing |
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| 18 | 18 | | more than 25,000 gallons per day; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | (2) a well used for agricultural use [conventional |
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| 20 | 20 | | farming and ranching activities, including such intensive |
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| 21 | 21 | | operations as aquaculture, livestock feedlots, or poultry |
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| 22 | 22 | | operations]. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (b) The district may not require a meter on [charge or |
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| 24 | 24 | | collect a well construction fee for] a well described by Subsection |
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| 25 | 25 | | (a) [(a)(2)]. |
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| 26 | 26 | | (c) [(b-1)] A well owner must obtain a permit and pay any |
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| 27 | 27 | | required fees, including a well construction fee, before using any |
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| 28 | 28 | | groundwater withdrawn from a well in the district for purposes |
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| 29 | 29 | | other than those exempted by this chapter or Chapter 36, Water Code |
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| 30 | 30 | | [section]. |
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| 31 | 31 | | [(c) A well used for dewatering and monitoring in the |
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| 32 | 32 | | production of coal or lignite is exempt from permit requirements, |
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| 33 | 33 | | regulations, and fees imposed by the district.] |
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| 34 | 34 | | (d) The district may not enter property to inspect a [an |
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| 35 | 35 | | exempt] well described by Subsection (a) without the property |
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| 36 | 36 | | owner's permission. |
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| 37 | 37 | | Sec. 8843.153. TAXES [AND OTHER FEES] PROHIBITED. |
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| 38 | 38 | | Notwithstanding Section 8843.101 or Subchapter G, Chapter 36, Water |
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| 39 | 39 | | Code, the district may not[: |
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| 40 | 40 | | [(1)] impose a tax[; or |
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| 41 | 41 | | [(2) assess or collect any fees except as authorized |
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| 42 | 42 | | by Section 8843.151 or 8843.152]. |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 8843, Special District |
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| 44 | 44 | | Local Laws Code, is amended by adding Section 8843.155 to read as |
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| 45 | 45 | | follows: |
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| 46 | 46 | | Sec. 8843.155. FEES. (a) The district may assess |
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| 47 | 47 | | production fees as authorized by Section 36.205, Water Code. |
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| 48 | 48 | | (b) The district may not charge for an annual period a |
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| 49 | 49 | | production fee greater than: |
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| 50 | 50 | | (1) $1 per acre-foot for water used for agricultural |
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| 51 | 51 | | use; or |
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| 52 | 52 | | (2) 25 cents per 1,000 gallons for water used for any |
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| 53 | 53 | | other purpose. |
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| 54 | 54 | | SECTION 3. The following sections of the Special District |
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| 55 | 55 | | Local Laws Code are repealed: |
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| 56 | 56 | | (1) Section 8843.055; |
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| 57 | 57 | | (2) Section 8843.105; |
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| 58 | 58 | | (3) Section 8843.106; and |
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| 59 | 59 | | (4) Section 8843.154. |
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| 60 | 60 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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