CHAPTER 8. MULTI-STATE WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMISSION
WATER CODE
TITLE 2. WATER ADMINISTRATION
SUBTITLE A. EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
CHAPTER 8. MULTI-STATE WATER RESOURCES PLANNING COMMISSION
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 8.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Multi-State Water Resources Planning
Commission.
(2) "Commissioner" means a member of the commission.
(3) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.001 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54) eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Renumbered from Sec.
6.001 and amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 977, Sec. 2, eff.
June 19, 1987.
SUBCHAPTER B. ORGANIZATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Sec. 8.011. CREATION OF COMMISSION. The Multi-State Water
Resources Planning Commission is created as an agency of the
state.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.011 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54) eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.013. MEMBERS OF COMMISSION; APPOINTMENT. (a) The
commission is composed of seven commissioners who are appointed
by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
(b) The governor shall make the appointments so that each member
is from a different section of the state.
(c) Three commissioners must be members of the general public,
one commissioner must have a background in the field of higher
education, one commissioner must have a background in private
business, one commissioner must have a background in agriculture,
and one commissioner must have a background in an energy-related
field.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.013 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 2003,
78th Leg., ch. 1170, Sec. 46.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 8.014. OFFICERS OF THE STATE; OATH. Each commissioner is
an officer of the state as that term is used in the constitution,
and each commissioner shall qualify by taking the official oath
of office.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.014 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.015. TERMS OF OFFICE. (a) Commissioners hold office for
staggered terms of six years, with the terms of two or three
commissioners expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(b) Each commissioner holds office until his successor is
appointed and has qualified for office.
(c) If a vacancy occurs in the office of commissioner, the
governor shall appoint a successor to serve for the unexpired
portion of the term.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.015 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 2003,
78th Leg., ch. 1170, Sec. 46.02, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Sec. 8.016. CHAIRMAN. The governor shall designate one
commissioner as chairman of the commission to serve at the will
of the governor.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.016 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.017. COMMISSION MEETINGS. (a) The commission shall meet
at least quarterly on a day and at a place within the state
selected by it.
(b) A meeting of the commission may be recessed at the
discretion of the commission.
(c) The chairman or two commissioners may call a special meeting
at any time by giving notice to the other commissioners.
(d) The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the
commission.
(e) A majority of the commissioners constitute a quorum to
transact business of the commission.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.017 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.018. COMPENSATION; EXPENSES. Each commissioner is
entitled to receive the amount provided by the General
Appropriations Act for his services together with travel and
other necessary expenses as provided by law.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.018 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.019. STAFF. The board shall provide necessary staff and
support to the commission to assist the commission in carrying
out this chapter.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.019 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Renumbered from Sec.
6.019 and amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 977, Sec. 2, eff.
June 19, 1987.
Sec. 8.020. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVES. In cooperating with or
carrying out discussions with a particular state under Section
8.051 of this code or in negotiating with a particular state
under Section 8.056 of this code, the commission may appoint one
or more persons who reside within an area of this state that is
adjacent to the particular state with which this state is
cooperating, having discussions, or negotiating, and who are
knowledgeable with regard to the water concerns of the adjacent
state, to join the commission in the cooperative activity,
discussions, or negotiations and to advise the commission.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.020 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1987,
70th Leg., ch. 167, Sec. 5.01(a)(55), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
SUBCHAPTER C. POWERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 8.051. INTERACTION WITH OTHER STATES. (a) In cooperation
with representatives of neighboring states, the commission shall
study the water needs of the region after the year 2000.
(b) The commission shall initiate and carry out discussions with
representatives of neighboring states relating to the
identification and development of sources and methods of
augmenting water supplies on a regional basis after existing
water supplies are fully committed.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.051 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.052. INTERACTION WITH MEXICO. The commission shall
contract and confer with the government of Mexico concerning
water needs and development of sources of water supply.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.052 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.053. STUDIES. The commission shall request the board to
prepare studies that consider utilization of only that floodwater
that is determined to be in excess of the reasonably foreseeable
needs of any area where that floodwater is located.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.053 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Renumbered from Sec.
6.053 and amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 977, Sec. 2, eff.
June 19, 1987.
Sec. 8.054. DESIGNATING WATER DEFICIENT AREAS. The commission
shall designate areas of the state in which the present and
future water supply is not sufficient to meet the future
requirements of those areas, even after giving full consideration
to the effects of water conservation in the projections of future
needs.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.054 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.055. REPORTS. The commission shall make recommendations
to the governor and to the legislature relating to potential
water source areas and the necessary methods to bring the water
to those areas in this state that need water.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.055 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.
Sec. 8.056. COMPACTS. The commission shall contact and
negotiate with other states regarding the need for establishing
interstate compacts, addressing groundwater problems, needs, and
supplies, if an aquifer underlies several states, and addressing
other related subjects that would be beneficial to the states
including the conservation and beneficial use of water.
Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 39, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1,
1985. Renumbered from Sec. 6.056 by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch.
167, Sec. 5.01(a)(54), eff. Sept. 1, 1987.