TITLE: Relating to the authority of hospitals in certain counties to drill a water well for the purpose of producing water for use in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

SUMMARY: Relating to the authority of hospitals in certain counties to drill a water well for the purpose of producing water for use in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the authority of hospitals in certain counties to drill a water well for the purpose of producing water for use in the event of an emergency or natural disaster. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 311, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 311.005 to read as follows: Sec. 311.005. WATER WELLS FOR USE BY HOSPITALS IN CERTAIN COUNTIES IN EVENT OF EMERGENCY OR NATURAL DISASTER. (a) This section applies only to a hospital located in a county that: (1) has a population of more than 250,000; and (2) borders the Neches River. (b) A hospital to which this section applies may drill a water well on property owned by the hospital for the purpose of producing water to supplement the hospital's water supply in the event that an emergency or natural disaster prevents the hospital from receiving water from the hospital's usual source. (c) This section does not affect the authority of a groundwater conservation district to regulate groundwater production under Chapter 36, Water Code, or other law governing a groundwater conservation district. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.