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House Bill 451 |
House Author: Lucio III et al. |
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Effective: 9-1-11 |
Senate Sponsor: Hegar |
House Bill 451 amends the Water Code to require the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) by rule to establish a Don't Mess with Texas Water program to prevent illegal dumping that affects the surface waters of the state by placing signs on major highway water crossings that notify drivers of a toll-free number to call to report illegal dumping, and to require TCEQ to establish a toll-free number hotline that will forward calls to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The bill authorizes a local government to work with TCEQ to participate in the program, requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to cooperate with TCEQ in the placement of signs, and requires TxDOT to post a sign that complies with program requirements at a major highway water crossing at the time a previously posted sign identifying the crossing or prohibiting dumping at the crossing is scheduled to be replaced.