HBA-LJP S.B. 1697 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1697 By: Barrientos Natural Resources 5/15/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1999, the Legislature authorized the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) to sell water to Williamson County and to assess an additional surcharge on the transferred water to create the agricultural water conservation fund (fund). Before making a determination of the use of money from the fund, LCRA is required to consult an advisory committee which is composed of members from Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado counties, but does not have representatives from Burnet, Llano, and Travis counties. These counties are also affected by the transfer of water from the Colorado River watershed. Senate Bill 1697 provides for representation from Burnet, Llano, and Travis counties on the advisory committee with which LCRA is required to consult with prior to the determination of the use of money from the fund. 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 Senate Bill 1697 provides that the advisory committee with which the Lower Colorado River Authority is required to consult prior to the determination of the use of money from the agricultural water conservation fund is to be composed of six members with one member each from Matagorda, Wharton, and Colorado counties to represent agricultural irrigation interests and one member each from Burnet, Llano, and Travis counties to represent the interests of the Highland Lakes. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.