22
Texas Association of Builders
September/October 2015
Feature
to be disclosed on the TWDB website regarding
the use of State Water Implementation Fund for
Texas (SWIFT) funds, including the prioritization
points awarded for each project, the rate of return
on the SWIFT fund investments, the status of
loan repayments, terms of bond enhancement
agreements and other requirements.
Effective Sept. 1, 2015.
HB 1794 (Rep. Geren/Sen. Hancock)
Relating to maximum penalties for
certain environmental violations.
Stipulates that for violations of Water Code,
Chapter 28, and Health and Safety Code, Chapter
401, the first $4.3 million of an amount recovered
shall be divided equally between the state and
local government that brought the lawsuit.
Any amount in excess of $4.3 million would be
awarded to the state. Prescribes certain factors to
be considered in determining the amount of a civil
penalty in a suit brought by a local governments
relating to a permit issued by the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ),
and requires that a local government bring forth
a lawsuit under certain time limitations. Limits
the amount that a local government can receive
from certain lawsuits to one-half of $4.3 million
or $2,150,000 per lawsuit. Under current law, the
state and local government share equally in such
lawsuit awards and there are no limits places
upon possible recovery.
Effective Sept. 1, 2015.
HB 1902 (Rep. Howard/Sen. Zaffirini)
Relating to the regulation and use of
graywater.
Allows the Texas Department
of Health to adopt and implement minimum
standards for the indoor and outdoor
use and reuse of treated graywater and
alternative onsite water, including rules for
inspection and annual testing of a graywater
or alternative onsite water system. Defines
graywater as “wastewater from clothes-
washing machines, showers, bathtubs,
hand-washing lavatories, and sinks that are
not used for disposal of hazardous or toxic
ingredients.” Defines alternative onsite water
as “rainwater, air-conditioner condensate,
foundation drain water, storm water, cooling
tower blowdown, swimming pool backwash
and drain water, reverse osmosis reject water
HB 658 (Rep. Zerwas/Sen. Kolkhorst)
Relating to the creation of a campus of
the Texas State Technical College System
in Fort Bend County.
Allows the creation of a
Texas State Technical College System campus in
the city of Richmond in Fort Bend County.
Effective Immediately.
HB 2014 (Rep. Sheets/Sen. V. Taylor)
Relating to the authority of military
personnel to obtain certification to
teach career and technology education
classes in public schools.
Allows military
personnel to obtain a certification to teach career
and technology education (CTE) classes in public
schools, even without a specific occupational
licensure or credential.
Effective Immediately.
HB 2628 (Rep. Clardy/Sen. Garcia)
Relating to the development and
alignment by the Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board of Curricula for
certain educational programs.
Directs the
board to periodically review the field of study
curricula to ensure alignment with student
interest and academic and industry needs.
Effective Sept. 1, 2015.
HB 3062 (Rep. Clardy/Sen. West)
Relating
to the participation of an independent
school district in the Jobs and Education
for Texans (JET) Grant Program.
Now that
the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET) Grant
Program will be transferred from the Comptroller’s
office to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)
per HB 1351, its current mission and funding levels
of $5 million annually will remain the same.Allows
independent school districts to access the grant
fund when tied to higher education dual credits.
Effective Immediately.
SB 1309 (Sen. Menéndez/Rep. Deshotel)
Relating to eligibility requirements for
issuance of a teaching certificate to an
applicant who holds a Junior Reserve
Officer Training Corps instructor teaching
certification.
Allows a JROTC instructor
teaching certification holder to apply to
the State Board of Education (SBOE) for a
teaching certificate.
Effective Immediately.
SB 1351 (Sen. Hinojosa/Rep. Zerwas)
Relating to transferring to the Texas
Workforce Commission certain duties of
the comptroller related to the Jobs and
Education for Texans Grant Program.
Transfers the Jobs and Education for Texans (JET)
Grant Program from the Comptroller to the Texas
Workforce Commission.
Effective Immediately.
WATER
HB 30 (Rep. Larson/Sen. Perry)
Relating
to the development of brackish
groundwater.
Requires regional water plans to
include opportunities for large scale desalination
facilities for brackish groundwater or seawater
to serve local or regional brackish production
zones. Requires the Texas Water Development
Board (TWDB) to research and designate local or
regional brackish groundwater production zones
under certain conditions, in cooperation with
groundwater districts. Zones can’t be designated
within the boundaries of the Edwards Aquifer
Authority, the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer
Conservation District, or in subsidence districts.
Effective Immediately.
HB 200 (Rep. Keffer/Sen. Perry)
Relating
to the regulation of groundwater.
Clarifies
that Groundwater Conservation Districts (GCD)
are the state's preferred method of groundwater
management "in order to protect property rights,
balance the development and conservation of
groundwater to meet the needs of this state, and
use the best available science in the development
of groundwater." Provides a detailed process
for contested case hearings at State Office of
Administration Hearings (SOAH) on desired future
conditions, for judicial appeals of desired future
conditions and for appeals of permit or permit
amendment denials.
Effective Sept. 1, 2015.
HB 280 (Rep. Simmons/Sen. Perry)
Relating to the information required
to be posted by the Texas Water
Development Board on the board’s
Internet website regarding the use of
the state water implementation fund for
Texas.
Requires additional financial information
*
Denotes a TAB Priority Bill
