HBA-EDN H.B. 3045 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3045
By: Luna, Vilma
Natural Resources
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the holder of a water right may not divert water from
the holder's appropriation into wetlands for estuary enhancement without
obtaining special authority from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC).  Allowing owners of a right to appropriate water to
divert water into wetlands under limited purposes and in accordance with
the orders of TNRCC would enhance and benefit these estuaries.  House Bill
3045 grants the authority to owners of a right to appropriate water of this
state.    
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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3045 amends the Water Code to authorize the owner of a right to
appropriate water of the state, without obtaining an additional permit or
authority, to divert water from its appropriation into wetlands for
enhancement of estuaries if its permit to appropriate water provides for
releases for the benefit of estuaries and the diversion is in accordance
with an order issued by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission
under the permit for the benefit of the estuaries.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.