By: Frank, et al. H.B. No. 3735       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT       relating to an application for a new or amended water right   submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Sections 11.002(1) and (3), Water Code, are   amended to read as follows:                (1)  "Commission" means the Texas [Natural Resource   Conservation] Commission on Environmental Quality.                (3)  "Executive director" means the executive director   of the Texas [Natural Resource Conservation] Commission on   Environmental Quality.          SECTION 2.  Section 11.125(a), Water Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The application must be accompanied by a map or plat in   the form and containing the information prescribed by the   commission [drawn on tracing linen on a scale not less than one inch   equals 2,000 feet].          SECTION 3.  Section 11.128, Water Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 11.128.  PAYMENT OF FEE. The [If the] applicant [is   not exempted from payment of the filing fee under Section 12.112 of   this code, he] shall pay the filing fee prescribed by Section 5.701   [5.701(c)] at the time [he files] the application is filed. The   commission may [shall] not record, file, or consider the   application until the executive director certifies to the   commission that the fee is paid.          SECTION 4.  Section 11.134, Water Code, is amended by adding   Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:          (b-1)  In determining whether an appropriation is   detrimental to the public welfare under Subsection (b)(3)(C), the   commission may consider only the factors that are within the   jurisdiction and expertise of the commission as established by this   chapter.          SECTION 5.  Sections 11.125(b) and (c), Water Code, are   repealed.          SECTION 6.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   an application for a new or amended water right received by the   Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on or after the effective   date of this Act. An application received before the effective date   of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the   application was received, and the former law is continued in effect   for that purpose.          SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.