Bill Text: TX HB2452 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Relating to the appointment of a watermaster for the Brazos River Basin; providing for a limitation on certain fees.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 5-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-29 - Considered in Calendars [HB2452 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB2452-Comm_Sub.html
| 83R17176 JAM-F | |||
| By: Bonnen of Brazoria, Eiland, | H.B. No. 2452 | ||
| Thompson of Brazoria, | |||
| Bonnen of Galveston, Ritter, et al. | |||
| Substitute the following for H.B. | |||
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| relating to the appointment of a watermaster for the Brazos River | ||
| Basin; providing for a limitation on certain fees. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Section 11.325, Water Code, is amended to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| Sec. 11.325. WATER DIVISIONS. (a) Subject to Subsection | ||
| (b), the [ |
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| divisions for the purpose of administering adjudicated water | ||
| rights. Water divisions may be created from time to time as the | ||
| necessity arises. The divisions shall be constituted to secure the | ||
| best protection to the holders of water rights and the most | ||
| economical supervision on the part of the state. | ||
| (b) The commission shall create a water division that | ||
| includes the entire Brazos River Basin. | ||
| SECTION 2. Section 11.326(a), Water Code, is amended to | ||
| read as follows: | ||
| (a) The executive director: | ||
| (1) shall appoint a watermaster for the water division | ||
| created under Section 11.325(b); and | ||
| (2) may appoint one watermaster for each other water | ||
| division. | ||
| SECTION 3. Section 11.329, Water Code, is amended by | ||
| amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (c-1) to read as | ||
| follows: | ||
| (c) The commission shall hold a public hearing on the | ||
| proposed fiscal year budget for each watermaster operation. The | ||
| commission shall determine the apportionment of the costs of | ||
| administration of adjudicated water rights among the holders of the | ||
| rights. After a public hearing, the commission shall issue an order | ||
| assessing the annual cost against the holders of water rights to | ||
| whom the water will be distributed under the final decree. Subject | ||
| to Subsection (c-1), the [ |
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| the costs. The executive director may provide for payments in | ||
| installments and shall specify the dates by which payments shall be | ||
| made to the commission. At the request of the watermaster advisory | ||
| committee the commission may modify a fiscal year budget for any | ||
| water division. | ||
| (c-1) An annual fee assessed by the commission to fund the | ||
| Brazos River watermaster program may not: | ||
| (1) exceed $120 for the holder of a right to | ||
| appropriate water from the Brazos River solely for agricultural | ||
| use; or | ||
| (2) be assessed against a person who takes water | ||
| solely for domestic or livestock purposes. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
| a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
| provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
| Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
| Act takes effect September 1, 2013. | ||
