HBA-NMO S.B. 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 76 By: Truan Natural Resources 4/20/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to develop water availability models for certain river basins in this state. A water availability model accounts for all existing water rights, uses, and demands on a river to determine how much water is available and under what conditions it is available. S.B. 76 requires TNRCC to develop a water availability model for the Rio Grande. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 16.012, Water Code, by adding a new Subsection (h), and redesignating existing Subsection (h), (i), and (j) as Subsections (i), (j), and (k), as follows: (h) Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), not later than December 31, 2003, to obtain or to develop an updated water availability model for the Rio Grande. Requires the model to encompass the significant water demands within the watershed of the river as well as the unique geology and hydrology of the region. Authorizes TNRCC to collect data from all jurisdictions that allocate the waters of the river, including jurisdictions outside this state. Provides that the model must be capable of evaluating the effects of allowing cities on the Rio Grande to receive credit for wastewater flows that are returned to the river. SECTION 2. Provides that the implementation of Subsection (h), Section 16.012, Water Code, is contingent on the appropriation by the 77th Legislature of funds for the purpose of that subsection. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.