| 1 | 1 | | 88R15783 JAM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Martinez H.B. No. 4818 |
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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 provision of financial assistance by the Texas |
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| 8 | 8 | | Water Development Board for certain projects. |
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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. Subchapter D, Chapter 17, Water Code, is amended |
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| 11 | 11 | | by amending Section 17.121 and adding Section 17.1215 to read as |
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| 12 | 12 | | follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 17.121. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. The water supply |
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| 14 | 14 | | account may be used by the board to provide financial assistance, |
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| 15 | 15 | | including grants, to political subdivisions for the construction, |
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| 16 | 16 | | acquisition, or improvement of water supply projects, including |
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| 17 | 17 | | those projects initiated for the sole purpose of conservation as |
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| 18 | 18 | | defined in Section 17.001(23)(B) of this code. |
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| 19 | 19 | | Sec. 17.1215. GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The board may provide |
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| 20 | 20 | | grants under this subchapter to a political subdivision, including |
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| 21 | 21 | | a drainage district established under Section 59, Article XVI, |
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| 22 | 22 | | Texas Constitution, for the construction, acquisition, or |
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| 23 | 23 | | improvement of water supply projects, including projects that |
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| 24 | 24 | | contain a flood control component. |
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| 25 | 25 | | (b) The board shall adopt rules necessary to implement this |
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| 26 | 26 | | section, including rules establishing eligibility requirements for |
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| 27 | 27 | | the use of grants provided under this section. Eligibility |
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| 28 | 28 | | requirements established under this section may not disqualify a |
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| 29 | 29 | | drainage district from receiving a grant because the district does |
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| 30 | 30 | | not: |
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| 31 | 31 | | (1) have historical data about water use; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) provide retail water service to consumers; or |
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| 33 | 33 | | (3) have a certificate of convenience and necessity |
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| 34 | 34 | | under which it provides retail water or wastewater service. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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