85R8006 SLB-F     By: Larson, Fallon H.B. No. 2005       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the duty of the Texas Water Development Board to conduct   studies of and prepare and submit reports on aquifer storage and   recovery.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 11.155, Water Code, is amended to read as   follows:          Sec. 11.155.  AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY REPORTS.  (a) The   board shall make studies, investigations, and surveys of the   aquifers in the state as it considers necessary to determine the   occurrence, quantity, quality, and availability of aquifers in   which water may be stored and subsequently retrieved for beneficial   use.           (b)  The board, working with appropriate interested persons,   including groundwater conservation districts, regional water   planning groups, and potential sponsors of aquifer storage and   recovery projects, shall:                (1)  conduct studies of aquifer storage and recovery   projects identified in the state water plan or by interested   persons; and                (2)  report the results of each study conducted under   Subdivision (1) to regional water planning groups and interested   persons.          (c)  This subsection expires January 1, 2019.  The board   shall:                (1)  conduct a statewide survey of the most favorable   areas for aquifer storage and recovery;                (2)  prepare a report that includes an overview of the   survey conducted under Subdivision (1); and                (3)  not later than December 15, 2018, submit the   report described by Subdivision (2) to the governor, lieutenant   governor, and speaker of the house of representatives. [The board   shall undertake the studies, investigations, and surveys in the   following order of priority:                [(1)     areas designated by the commission as "priority   groundwater management areas" under Section 35.008; and                [(2)     other areas of the state in a priority to be   determined by the board's ranking of where the greatest need   exists.]          SECTION 2.  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, 2017.