BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2708
87R14353 JRR-D	By: Patterson et al. (Paxton)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/19/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Exide Technologies operated a battery recycling plant in the City of Frisco before reaching an agreement with the city in 2012 to close the plant due to high levels of lead emissions. The city received a one-time appropriation of funds from the hazardous and solid waste remediation fee account to assist with the costs of cleaning up the site in 2013 and then again in 2015. However, the cleanup process for this site is ongoing and there is a continued need for state assistance to cover the costs. H.B. 2708 seeks to make funding from this account available to reimburse costs incurred in cleaning up the former Exide site through fiscal year 2027.

H.B. 2708 amends current law relating to the use of certain fees deposited to the hazardous and solid waste remediation fee account for reimbursement of environmental remediation at certain former battery recycling facility sites.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 361.133, Health and Safety Code, by adding Subsection (c-1), as follows:

(c-1) Authorizes money in the hazardous and solid waste remediation fee account attributable to fees imposed under Section 361.138 (Fee on the Sale of Batteries), notwithstanding Subsection (c) (relating to limitations on use of money in the account), to be used for reimbursement of environmental remediation at the site of a former battery recycling facility located in the municipal boundaries of a municipality with a population of more than 115,000 and less than 250,000 if a community development corporation serving the municipality is issued an industrial hazardous waste permit by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the site and is paying or has paid for part of the costs of the environmental remediation of the site pursuant to the permit. Provides that this subsection expires September 1, 2027.

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2021.