73R8753 JD-F
By Eckels H.B. No. 2859
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority and to the
1-3 powers of the authority.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Sections 1.02 and 3.24, Chapter 409, Acts of the
1-6 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969 (Article 7621d-2, Vernon's
1-7 Texas Civil Statutes), are amended to read as follows:
1-8 Sec. 1.02. FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF POLICY. It is
1-9 hereby found and declared that the quality of waters in Chambers,
1-10 Galveston, and Harris Counties is materially affected by the
1-11 disposal of wastes throughout those counties; that regional
1-12 approaches to studying water pollution in these counties, to
1-13 planning corrective and preventive measures, to providing
1-14 coordinated facilities for waste disposal, and to regulating waste
1-15 disposal would be far more effective than efforts on a county-wide,
1-16 city-wide, or smaller scale; that solid wastes, as well as other
1-17 kinds of waste, may impair water quality by seepage, drainage, and
1-18 otherwise; that regional approaches to testing, investigating, and
1-19 studying motor vehicular air pollution within or outside the
1-20 district, to planning corrective and preventative measures, and to
1-21 providing coordinated facilities for vehicular inspection,
1-22 maintenance, and reduction of vehicle air emissions would be far
1-23 more effective than efforts on a county-wide, city-wide, or smaller
1-24 scale; that creation of the Gulf Coast Waste Disposal Authority
2-1 would advance the established policy of the state to maintain the
2-2 quality of the waters in the state consistent with the public
2-3 health and public enjoyment thereof, the propagation and protection
2-4 of terrestrial and aquatic life, the operation of existing
2-5 industries, and the economic development of the state; and that
2-6 impending shortage of water in the district for beneficial uses
2-7 requires that all reasonable measures be taken to prevent and abate
2-8 water pollution, and to reclaim polluted water for beneficial uses.
2-9 Sec. 3.24. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS. The authority may enter
2-10 into cooperative agreements with other local governments, state
2-11 agencies, or agencies of the United States of America or their
2-12 contractors:
2-13 (1) to perform water quality and waste disposal
2-14 management, inspection, and enforcement functions and give
2-15 technical aid and education services to any entity that is a party
2-16 to the agreement; <and>
2-17 (2) to design, construct, own, finance, lease, and
2-18 operate motor vehicular emissions inspection programs and
2-19 facilities within or outside the district to test, evaluate, and
2-20 reduce vehicular air pollution; and
2-21 (3) to transfer money or property to any entity that
2-22 is a party to the cooperative agreement for the purpose of:
2-23 (A) water quality and waste disposal management,
2-24 inspection, enforcement, and technical aid and education; or
2-25 (B) designing, constructing, acquiring,
2-26 financing, leasing, and operating motor vehicular emissions
2-27 inspection programs or facilities.
3-1 SECTION 2. Section 1.03(a)(22), Chapter 409, Acts of the
3-2 61st Legislature, Regular Session, 1969 (Article 7621d-2, Vernon's
3-3 Texas Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
3-4 (22) "Outside the district" means the area contained
3-5 in counties adjacent to the district and Orange County.
3-6 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
3-7 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-8 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-9 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-10 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
3-11 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
3-12 passage, and it is so enacted.