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House Bill 1445 |
House Author: Bonnen |
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Effective: 6-19-09 |
Senate Sponsor: Huffman |
House Bill 1445 amends the Natural Resources Code to allow a political subdivision of the state acting with the approval of the commissioner of the General Land Office to erect or maintain a shore protection structure that is designed to protect public infrastructure, including a state or county highway or bridge; that is located on land that is state-owned submerged land or was acquired for the project by a subdivision of Texas, and is located in or adjacent to the mouth of a natural inlet from the Gulf of Mexico; and that extends at least 1,000 feet along the shoreline. The bill authorizes the commissioner, in granting approval of a shore protection structure, to specify requirements for the design and location of the structure or any required public parking area. The bill establishes that the line of vegetation in an area of public beach where a shore protection structure interrupts the natural line of vegetation is along the seaward side of the shore protection structure. The bill clarifies that the line of vegetation is the landward boundary of the public beach and of the public easement.
House Bill 1445 requires a political subdivision of Texas, before it begins construction of a shore protection structure, to conduct and obtain the commissioner's approval of a coastal boundary survey under provisions for preservation of littoral rights. The bill specifies that Texas retains fee title to all land described under provisions for the gulfward boundary of Texas that is occupied by or affected by the placement of the structure.