Sec. 26.052. LIMITED LIABILITY FOR AQUATIC HERBICIDE APPLICATION. (a) In this section, "commercially licensed aquatic herbicide applicator" means a person who holds a commercial applicator license issued by the Department of Agriculture under Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, to apply aquatic herbicides.
(b) Except as provided by Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife Code, a commercially licensed aquatic herbicide applicator working under contract with a river authority organized pursuant to Section 59, Article XVI, Texas Constitution, is not liable for damages in excess of $2 million for each occurrence of personal injury, property damage, or death resulting directly or indirectly from the application of aquatic herbicide in compliance with such contract, applicable law, and the license terms or permit.
(c) The control and elimination of noxious weeds, grasses, and vegetation in the rivers, tributaries, impoundments, and reservoirs of the state through the application by river authorities or their agents, employees, or contractors, in compliance with applicable law, licenses, and permits, of aquatic herbicides are essential governmental functions, and except to the extent provided in Chapter 101, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, nothing herein shall be deemed or construed to waive, limit, or restrict the governmental immunity of river authorities in the performance of such governmental functions.
(d) The limited liability provided by this section does not apply to a commercially licensed aquatic herbicide applicator if the applicator uses the wrong aquatic herbicide, fails to follow manufacturers' warnings, instructions, and directions for the application of the aquatic herbicide, fails to follow the directions of the river authority concerning the application of the aquatic herbicide, or applies the aquatic herbicide in a manner that violates federal or state law, rules, or regulations.
Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 966, Sec. 7.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Renumbered from Water Code Sec. 26.050 by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1275, Sec. 2(144), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Structure Texas Statutes
Title 2 - Water Administration
Subtitle D - Water Quality Control
Chapter 26 - Water Quality Control
Subchapter B. General Powers and Duties
Section 26.012. State Water Quality Plan
Section 26.013. Research, Investigations
Section 26.0135. Watershed Monitoring and Assessment of Water Quality
Section 26.0136. Water Quality Management
Section 26.014. Power to Enter Property
Section 26.015. Power to Examine Records
Section 26.0151. Public Information
Section 26.018. Contracts, Instruments
Section 26.0191. Temporary or Emergency Order Relating to Discharge of Waste or Pollutants
Section 26.020. Hearing Powers
Section 26.021. Delegation of Hearing Powers
Section 26.022. Notice of Hearings; Continuance
Section 26.023. Water Quality Standards
Section 26.024. Hearings on Standards; Consultation
Section 26.025. Hearings on Standards; Notice to Whom
Section 26.026. Standards to Be Published
Section 26.027. Commission May Issue Permits
Section 26.0271. Permits Authorizing Reuse Water System Contributions and Discharges
Section 26.0272. Permits Authorizing Discharges From Certain Seawater Desalination Facilities
Section 26.028. Action on Application
Section 26.0281. Consideration of Compliance History
Section 26.0282. Consideration of Need and Regional Treatment Options
Section 26.0283. Denial of Application for Permit; Assistance Provided by Certain Former Employees
Section 26.0286. Procedures Applicable to Permits for Certain Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations
Section 26.029. Conditions of Permit; Amendment
Section 26.0291. Water Quality Fee
Section 26.0292. Fees Charged to Aquaculture Facilities
Section 26.030. Permit; Effect on Recreational Water
Section 26.0301. Wastewater Operations Company Registration and Operator Licensing
Section 26.0311. Standards for Control of Graywater
Section 26.033. Rating of Waste Disposal Systems
Section 26.034. Approval of Disposal System Plans
Section 26.0345. Discharge From Aquaculture Facilities
Section 26.035. Federal Grants
Section 26.036. Water Quality Management Plans
Section 26.037. Approval of Plans
Section 26.038. Fiscal Control on Water Quality Management Planning
Section 26.039. Accidental Discharges and Spills
Section 26.040. General Permits
Section 26.0405. General Permits for Certain Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems
Section 26.041. Health Hazards
Section 26.042. Monitoring and Reporting
Section 26.044. Disposal of Boat Sewage
Section 26.045. Pump-Out Facilities for Boat Sewage
Section 26.046. Hearings on Protection of Edwards Aquifer From Pollution
Section 26.0461. Fees for Edwards Aquifer Plans
Section 26.048. Prohibition of Discharge to a Playa From a Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation
Section 26.049. Sanitary Sewer Overflows
Section 26.0491. Model Standards to Prevent Discharge of Untreated Wastewater From Sanitary Sewers
Section 26.050. Digital Copies of Boundary Lines
Section 26.052. Limited Liability for Aquatic Herbicide Application