Sec. 15.4061.  FUNDING FOR REGIONAL WATER PLANS.  (a)  The board may enter into contracts with political subdivisions designated as representatives of a regional water planning group under Section 16.053(c) of this code to pay from the research and planning fund all or part of the cost of developing or revising regional water plans as defined in Section 16.053 of this code.
(b)  A political subdivision may submit, either individually or jointly with other political subdivisions, a written application to the board for the purpose of funding regional water planning from the research and planning fund.
(c)  The application shall be in the manner and form required by board rules and include:
(1)  the name of the political subdivision or political subdivisions;
(2)  a citation to the laws under which the political subdivision was created and is operating, including specific citation of all laws providing authority to develop and implement a regional water plan;
(3)  the amount requested from the board for regional water planning;  and
(4)  any other relevant information required by the board in its rules or specifically requested by the board.
(d)  After notice and hearing, the board may award the applicant all or part of the requested funds that the board considers necessary for the political subdivision to carry out regional water planning.
(e)  If the board grants an application under this section and awards funds for regional water planning, the board shall enter into a contract with the political subdivision or political subdivisions that includes:
(1)  a detailed statement of the purpose for which the money is to be used;
(2)  the total amount of money to be paid by the board from the research and planning fund under the contract;  and
(3)  any other terms and conditions required by the board's rules or agreed to by the contracting parties.
(f)  The board shall adopt rules establishing criteria for eligibility for regional water planning money that include:
(1)  the relative need of the political subdivision for the money;
(2)  the legal authority of the political subdivision to develop and implement a regional water plan;  and
(3)  the degree to which regional water planning by the political subdivision or political subdivisions will address the water supply needs in the regional water planning area.
(g)  The board may not provide funds under this section for activities for which existing information or data is sufficient for the planning effort, including:
(1)  detailed evaluation of cost of water supply alternatives where recent information is available to evaluate the cost associated with the alternative;
(2)  evaluation of groundwater resources for which current information is available from the board or other entity sufficient for evaluation of the resource;
(3)  determination of water savings resulting from standard conservation practices for which current information is available from the board;
(4)  revision of board demand and population projections;
(5)  revision of environmental planning criteria for new surface water supply projects as defined in the state water plan guidelines established in Section 16.051(d) of this section;  and
(6)  collection of data describing groundwater or surface water resources where information for evaluation of the resource is currently available.
(h)  The board shall require that regional water plans developed or revised under contracts entered into under this section be made available to the commission, the Department of Agriculture, and the Parks and Wildlife Department.
Added by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1010, Sec. 1.07, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.  Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 456, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1999;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 979, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1999.