82R10665 SLB-D
 
  By: Wentworth S.B. No. 1901
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 3.0307, Chapter 966, Acts of the 77th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is amended by amending
  Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (i) to read as follows:
         (d)  Permanent directors serve staggered four-year
  [two-year] terms.
         (i)  A director may not serve more than two consecutive
  four-year terms. A former director may serve a third or subsequent
  term if that director has not served for four years. A former
  director who has not served for four years may be appointed to fill
  a vacancy on the board and, if elected, may serve two full terms
  after the expiration of the term to fill the vacancy.
         SECTION 2.  Section 3.0310, Chapter 966, Acts of the 77th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 3.0310.  ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. [(a)] On the uniform
  election date [first Saturday] in May of each even-numbered year 
  [or the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the
  first even-numbered year after the year in which the district is
  authorized to be created at a confirmation election], an election
  shall be held in the district for the election of the appropriate
  number of [three] directors [to serve two-year terms and two
  directors to serve one-year terms].
         [(b)     On the first Saturday in May or the first Tuesday after
  the first Monday in November, as applicable, of each subsequent
  second year following the election held under Subsection (a) of
  this section, the appropriate number of directors shall be
  elected.]
         SECTION 3.  Section 3.0312(a), Chapter 966, Acts of the 77th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, is amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Section 3.0305(c) [Sections
  3.0305(b) and (c)] of this part, the district may require a permit
  for the construction of a new well completed after the effective
  date of this Act and may charge and collect a construction permit
  fee [not to exceed $300].
         SECTION 4.  Chapter 966, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
  Regular Session, 2001, is amended by adding Part 3A to read as
  follows:
  PART 3A. CERTAIN POWERS OF THE HAYS TRINITY GROUNDWATER
  CONSERVATION DISTRICT
         Sec. 3A.0351.  DEFINITIONS. In this part:
               (1)  "Board" means the board of directors of the
  district.
               (2)  "District" means the Hays Trinity Groundwater
  Conservation District.
         Sec. 3A.0352.  HIGH VOLUME WELLS. (a)  In this section,
  "high volume well" means a well that is capable of producing more
  than 25,000 gallons per day for any use.
         (b)  An application for a permit to operate a high volume
  well in the district must include:
               (1)  the name and mailing address of all persons who own
  property within one-quarter mile of the well site; and
               (2)  proof that the owner or operator requesting the
  permit has provided notice to all persons listed in Subdivision (1)
  according to the form prescribed by the board.
         Sec. 3A.0353.  CERTAIN PERMIT EXEMPTIONS INAPPLICABLE.  
  Section 36.117(b)(1), Water Code, does not apply to the district.
         Sec. 3A.0354.  EXEMPTION FOR CERTAIN WELLS.  (a)  A well that
  was approved for drilling on or before the effective date of the Act
  enacting this part does not require a permit for drilling or
  operation.
         (b)  The owner or operator of a well that meets the
  requirements of Subsection (c) may apply for an exemption before
  September 1, 2017. A well that is exempt under that subsection does
  not require a permit for drilling or operation.
         (c)  A well is eligible for the exemption if the well
  satisfies the requirements for exemption as they existed on the day
  before the effective date of the Act enacting this part and the
  well:
               (1)  has not been approved for drilling before the
  effective date of the Act enacting this part; or
               (2)  is to be drilled to supply water for a subdivision
  of land for which plat approval required by Chapter 232, Local
  Government Code, has been received, but drilling on the well has not
  begun.
         SECTION 5.  The following sections of Chapter 966, Acts of
  the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, are repealed:
               (1)  Sections 3.0304(d) and (e);
               (2)  Sections 3.0305(a) and (b); and
               (3)  Section 3.0306(b).
         SECTION 6.  Not later than three months after the effective
  date of this Act, the board of directors of the Hays Trinity
  Groundwater Conservation District shall adopt rules to implement
  Part 3A, Chapter 966, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2001, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 7.  (a)  Section 3.0310, Chapter 966, Acts of the
  77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, as amended by this Act,
  applies only to a member of the board of directors of the Hays
  Trinity Groundwater Conservation District elected on or after
  September 1, 2011.
         (b)  A member of the board of directors of the Hays Trinity
  Groundwater Conservation District elected in May 2010 serves a
  two-year term.
         (c)  A member of the board of directors of the Hays Trinity
  Groundwater Conservation District elected in May 2011 serves a
  three-year term.
         SECTION 8.  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, 2011.