HBA-BSM H.B. 3044 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3044
By: Luna, Vilma
Natural Resources
3/30/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Seawater desalination is rapidly becoming a more cost-effective strategy
for meeting municipal and industrial water needs, both for demand centers
along the coasts and in inland areas.  While no large-scale seawater
desalination facilities currently exist in Texas, several regional water
planning groups have included seawater desalination as a recommended water
management strategy for meeting at least a portion of the long-term water
needs in their planning regions.  During the planning process, several
regulatory and financing issues were identified as potential constraints on
the development and implementation of seawater desalination facilities
along the Texas coast.  House Bill 3044 provides for changes in state law
to address these legal and institutional constraints.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3044 amends the Water Code to provide that a proposed transfer
of water made fresh by desalination for municipal or industrial purposes is
not subject to current requirements concerning interbasin transfers.  The
bill also authorizes the Texas Water Development Board to provide funding
for desalination projects on the same participation basis as other water
projects.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.