summary
Introduced
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
In Committee
02/05/2026
02/05/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
104th General Assembly
Bill Summary
Amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act. Makes changes in provisions concerning the circumstances under which the executive director of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District shall issue cease and desist orders and may issue orders to show cause and discontinue specified discharge-related violations. Provides that the Board of Commissioners of the District may order the party responsible for violations to pay a civil penalty that is not less than $1,500 nor more $5,000 per violation in show cause proceedings (rather than not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 for each day of discharge). Further provides that violations occurring after the last cited violation may be included in a separate show cause proceeding or consolidated with the current show cause proceeding at the district's sole discretion. Specifies that the court may assess a civil penalty of not less than $1,500 nor more than $25,000 (rather than not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000) for each day an offending party violates a final order of the Board of Commissioners and for each violation when the offending party's discharge represents an imminent danger to public health, welfare, safety; presents an endangerment to the environment; or threatens to interfere with the sewerage system or a water reclamation plant under the jurisdiction of the district. For show cause and Board order violations, adds that, when multiple exceedances of pollutant limits occur in a single day, the number of violations in that day shall be the number of exceedances in that day and that each regulatory multiple day average that exceeds acceptable limits also constitute a separate violation. Makes other changes.
AI Summary
This bill amends the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act to strengthen enforcement and penalties for violations related to discharging waste into the district's sewerage system. It clarifies the circumstances under which the executive director can issue cease and desist orders and orders to show cause, and it increases the potential civil penalties. Specifically, for violations addressed in a "show cause" proceeding before the Board of Commissioners, the penalty is now between $1,500 and $5,000 per violation, a significant increase from the previous $1,000 to $2,000 per day. The bill also clarifies that multiple exceedances of pollutant limits in a single day, or multiple day averages exceeding limits, will each count as a separate violation. Furthermore, for violations of a final Board order or when a discharge poses an imminent danger to public health, safety, or the environment, the court can impose penalties between $1,500 and $25,000 per day or per violation, a substantial rise from the previous $1,000 to $10,000 range. The bill also gives the district discretion to consolidate or separate future violations into new or existing show cause proceedings.
Sponsors (1)
Last Action
Referred to Assignments (on 02/05/2026)
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