HBA-NMO H.B. 2199 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2199
By: Chisum
Natural Resources
7/30/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Panhandle Ground Water Conservation District, Number Three, South of
the Canadian River, in Texas (district), originally included Carson, Gray,
and part of Potter counties.  The district now includes six counties and
parts of three other counties in the northeast panhandle.  When created,
the district primarily exercised jurisdiction over parts of the Ogallala
Aquifer.  However, as the district annexed other territory, its groundwater
resources expanded to include parts of other water resources. The original
enabling legislation for the district does not expressly grant the district
jurisdiction over these water resources.  H.B. 2199 deletes "Number Three,
South of the Canadian River, in Texas" from the name of the district,
changes "Ground Water" to "Groundwater" in the name of the district, and
expressly grants  the district the authority to regulate any underground
water resources inside its boundaries.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 1A, Chapter 19, Acts of the 55th Legislature,
Regular Session, 1957 (Article 8280-191, V.T.C.S.), to delete "Number
Three, South of the Canadian River, in Texas" from the name of the
Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 19, Acts of the 55th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1957 (Article 8280-191, V.T.C.S.), by adding Section 1C, as
follows: 

Sec. 1C.  Authorizes the Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District,
notwithstanding other provisions of this Act, to regulate any underground
water resources inside the boundaries of the district, including any
aquifer, perched water formation, or alluvium deposit, in the manner
provided by law. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.