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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the power of the North Fort Bend Water Authority to |
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impose a charge on certain wells or classes of wells. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 8813.103, Special District Local Laws |
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Code, is amended by amending Subsection (e) and adding Subsection |
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(e-1) to read as follows: |
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(e) For purposes of Subsection (d), a well is subject to a |
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groundwater reduction requirement if the Harris-Galveston |
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Subsidence District or the Fort Bend Subsidence District, as [the] |
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applicable, [subsidence district] has adopted or adopts a |
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requirement or rule that groundwater withdrawals from the well, or |
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from the well and other wells collectively, be reduced, including a |
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groundwater reduction that is not required until a future date. |
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(e-1) Notwithstanding Subsection (d), the authority may |
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impose a charge under Subsection (b) on a well or class of wells |
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located in Harris or Fort Bend County that ceases on or after June |
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30, 2013, to be subject to a groundwater reduction requirement |
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imposed by the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District or the Fort |
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Bend Subsidence District, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. The North Fort Bend Water Authority retains all |
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rights, powers, privileges, authorities, duties, and functions |
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that it had before the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. (a) The legislature validates and confirms all |
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governmental acts and proceedings of the North Fort Bend Water |
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Authority that were taken before the effective date of this Act. |
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(b) This section does not apply to any matter that on the |
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effective date of this Act: |
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(1) is involved in litigation if the litigation |
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ultimately results in the matter being held invalid by a final court |
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judgment; or |
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(2) has been held invalid by a final court judgment. |
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SECTION 4. (a) The legal notice of the intention to |
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introduce this Act, setting forth the general substance of this |
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Act, has been published as provided by law, and the notice and a |
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copy of this Act have been furnished to all persons, agencies, |
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officials, or entities to which they are required to be furnished |
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under Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, and Chapter 313, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) The governor, one of the required recipients, has |
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submitted the notice and Act to the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(c) The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has filed |
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its recommendations relating to this Act with the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives within the required time. |
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(d) All requirements of the constitution and laws of this |
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state and the rules and procedures of the legislature with respect |
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to the notice, introduction, and passage of this Act are fulfilled |
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and accomplished. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |