Table of Contents
  1. The San Marcos River
  2. Origin of the San Marcos River Task Force
  3. Legislative Actions
  4. The First and Second Task Force Meetings
  5. The Third Task Force Meeting
  6. Ongoing Litigation and County Actions
  7. TPWD Staff Summary
  8. Comments & Additional Information
List of Attachments
 

Report on the San Marcos River Task Force

III. Legislative Actions

Legislation was introduced in the 83rd and 84th Texas Legislative Sessions to address the complaints about use of this river segment, but did not pass (Tab 11, SB 234; Tab 12, SB 636; Tab 13, HB 2635). Regarding SB 234, (Zaffirini), two tubing companies that operate in this river segment provided documents at the House Committee on Special Purpose Districts hearing on May 20, 2015, entitled: 1) “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between Texas State Tubes LLC and RKY Ltd. Relating to SB 234 (Zaffirini)” (the February 2015 MOU); and 2) “PROPOSED Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Between Texas State Tubes and the Counties of Caldwell and Guadalupe” (the Proposed MOU). The February MOU was signed by Texas State Tubes LLC and RKY Ltd. The Proposed MOU was not signed, but it recites that it was “Provided to House Committee on Special Purpose Districts on SB234 by Texas State Tubes and Don’s Fish Camp on May 20, 2015”. These two documents are collectively referred to in this report as “the MOUs”. The MOUs refer to actions the tubing companies might undertake, in conjunction with each other or the counties in this river stretch, to address the complaints about tubing. The tubing companies provided additional testimony at legislative hearings in May 2015 that is provided in Tabs 53, 54, and 55.

The Culture, Recreation and Tourism Committee of the Texas House of Representatives (CRT) adopted as an interim charge after the 84th Legislative Session to: “Study and make recommendations regarding decreasing illegal behavior, improving public safety, protecting private property rights, and protecting environmental quality on the San Marcos River” (Tab 14, CRT Interim Charges). The CRT held a hearing on the San Marcos River situation on January 26, 2016 (Tab 15, Link to CRT Hearing; Tab 16, CRT Handout; Tab 17, Game Warden Citation Data).