Bill Text: TX SB515 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the effects of the construction of a border wall on storm drainage and other environmental matters in this state.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-14 - Referred to Water & Rural Affairs [SB515 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-SB515-Introduced.html

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86R6855 JAM-D
By: Rodríguez S.B. No. 515

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas Water Development Board and the
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regarding the effects of
the construction of a border wall on storm drainage and other
environmental matters in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section:
(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.
(2) "Border wall" means a wall, fence, or other
barrier on the border between the United States and Mexico.
(3) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality.
(b) The board and the commission jointly shall:
(1) conduct a study concerning the effects the
construction of a border wall would have on storm drainage, water
quality, and environmental contamination matters in this state; and
(2) develop recommendations for actions that may
prevent or mitigate any negative effects on storm drainage, water
quality, or environmental contamination matters resulting from the
construction of a border wall.
(c) The study must investigate:
(1) whether and to what extent the construction of a
border wall would cause or contribute to flood management or other
storm drainage problems in this state;
(2) whether and to what extent the construction of a
border wall would cause or contribute to negative environmental
contamination or other environmental effects in this state;
(3) whether certain designs or methods of construction
of a border wall would prevent or mitigate any negative effects
identified under Subdivisions (1) or (2) of this subsection;
(4) any economic effects expected to result from any
negative effects identified under Subdivision (1) or (2) of this
subsection; and
(5) what actions by the state would best prevent or
mitigate any negative effects identified under Subdivision (1) or
(2) of this subsection, including any potential legal actions
against the federal government to stop the construction or alter
the design of a border wall.
(d) Not later than March 1, 2020, the board and the
commission shall submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor,
and each standing committee of the legislature having primary
jurisdiction over water development and environmental matters:
(1) a report of the findings of the study conducted
under this section; and
(2) recommendations for actions that may prevent or
mitigate any negative storm drainage, water quality, or
environmental contamination effects resulting from the
construction of a border wall, including any potential legal
actions against the federal government to stop the construction or
alter the design of a border wall.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2021.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.