88R4606 SGM-D     By: Eckhardt, Blanco, Johnson S.B. No. 2362       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to establishing an advisory board to study surface water   and groundwater interaction.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  DEFINITION. In this Act, "advisory board" means   the Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction Advisory Board.          SECTION 2.  SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION   ADVISORY BOARD ESTABLISHED. (a) The Surface Water and Groundwater   Interaction Advisory Board is established and consists of 12   persons as follows:                (1)  the executive administrator of the Texas Water   Development Board;                (2)  one person to represent the interests of the Texas   Commission on Environmental Quality, recommended by the Texas   Commission on Environmental Quality and appointed jointly by the   chairs of the house natural resources committee and the senate   water and rural affairs committee;                (3)  two persons to represent the interests of river   authorities, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on   Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and   appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources   committee and the senate water and rural affairs committee;                (4)  two persons to represent the interests of   groundwater conservation districts, recommended jointly by the   Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Texas Water   Development Board and appointed jointly by the chairs of the house   natural resources committee and the senate water and rural affairs   committee;                (5)  two persons with academic or specialist knowledge   in the area of surface water and groundwater interaction, with one   appointed by the chair of the house natural resources committee and   another appointed by the chair of the senate water and rural affairs   committee;                (6)  one person to represent environmental interests or   the interests relating to the interaction of surface water and   groundwater, recommended jointly by the Texas Commission on   Environmental Quality and the Texas Water Development Board and   appointed jointly by the chairs of the house natural resources   committee and the senate water and rural affairs committee;                (7)  the chair of the house natural resources   committee;                (8)  the chair of the senate water and rural affairs   committee; and                (9)  one person from the office of the governor,   appointed by the governor.          (b)  The executive administrator of the Texas Water   Development Board serves as the chair of the advisory board.          SECTION 3.  PUBLIC MEETING.  The advisory board shall hold at   least one public meeting in order to accept comments from the public   on matters studied by the advisory board.          SECTION 4.  SURFACE WATER AND GROUNDWATER INTERACTION STUDY.   (a)  The advisory board shall study:                (1)  the extent to which surface water and groundwater   interact in this state;                (2)  challenges arising in this state from the   interaction of surface water and groundwater; and                (3)  approaches to mitigating challenges arising in   this state from the interaction of surface water and groundwater.          (b)  In conducting the study under this section, the advisory   board shall consult with:                (1)  the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;                (2)  groundwater conservation districts; and                (3)  river authorities.          SECTION 5.  STUDY REPORT; EXPIRATION OF ACT. (a)  The   advisory board shall deliver to the governor, the lieutenant   governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and each   member of the legislature a report on the determinations of the   advisory board based on the study conducted under Section 4 of this   Act not later than December 1, 2024. The advisory board shall   deliver to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of   the house of representatives, or a member of the legislature   related information on request.          (b)  The advisory board is abolished and this Act expires   January 1, 2025.          SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect   immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members   elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas   Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for   immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.