By: Parker S.B. No. 1051
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
1-1 relating to the reduction of solid waste by creating markets for
1-2 recycled materials and otherwise promoting use of recycled
1-3 materials.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 481, Government Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subchapter AA to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER AA. RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT
1-8 Sec. 481.371. PURPOSE. The purpose of this subchapter is to
1-9 develop and diversify the economy of this state and develop and
1-10 expand commerce in this state through sustaining and promoting
1-11 recycling enterprises.
1-12 Sec. 481.372. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "enterprise
1-13 zone" and "governing body" have the meanings assigned by the Texas
1-14 Enterprise Zone Act (Article 5190.7, Vernon's Texas Civil
1-15 Statutes).
1-16 Sec. 481.373. DESIGNATION AS RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT
1-17 ZONE. On application by the governing body of an enterprise zone,
1-18 the department may designate the enterprise zone as a recycling
1-19 market development zone for the development of local business and
1-20 industry in the zone to recycle materials that have served their
1-21 intended use or that are scrapped, discarded, used, surplus, or
1-22 obsolete by collecting, separating, or processing the materials for
1-23 use in the production of new products.
2-1 Sec. 481.374. RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT LOANS AND GRANTS.
2-2 (a) The department may make a loan or grant to the governing body
2-3 of an enterprise zone designated as a recycling market development
2-4 zone to fund an activity that sustains or increases recycling
2-5 efforts.
2-6 (b) A grant recipient under this section must match the
2-7 amount of the state grant with an equal amount of money from
2-8 another source.
2-9 (c) A grant under this section may not exceed $30,000.
2-10 (d) The department may make loans or grants from
2-11 appropriated funds or from any special fund.
2-12 Sec. 481.375. RULEMAKING. The department shall adopt
2-13 necessary rules to implement and administer this subchapter in
2-14 accordance with the purposes of this subchapter, including rules
2-15 on:
2-16 (1) criteria for designating a recycling market
2-17 development zone;
2-18 (2) designation applications, loan applications, and
2-19 grant applications;
2-20 (3) the minimum and maximum amount of a loan made
2-21 under this subchapter;
2-22 (4) application fees; and
2-23 (5) operational guidelines for loan and grant
2-24 disbursement.
2-25 SECTION 2. Article 11, State Purchasing and General Services
3-1 Act (Article 601b, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by
3-2 adding Sections 11.07 and 11.08 to read as follows:
3-3 Sec. 11.07. RECYCLING BY PRIVATE ENTERPRISES THAT CONTRACT
3-4 WITH STATE. A private enterprise that contracts with the state
3-5 shall exert its best efforts to recycle all materials that are
3-6 capable of being recycled, including paper products.
3-7 Sec. 11.08. INTERSTATE COMPACTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS
3-8 FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF RECYCLED PRODUCTS. The commission shall
3-9 enter into compacts and cooperative agreements with other states
3-10 and government entities for the procurement of products made of
3-11 recycled materials.
3-12 SECTION 3. Section 382.002, Local Government Code, is
3-13 amended to read as follows:
3-14 Sec. 382.002. Purpose. The primary purpose of this chapter
3-15 is to create county research and development authorities to promote
3-16 scientific research and development and commercialization of
3-17 research in affiliation with public and private institutions of
3-18 research, higher education, or health science centers. Research to
3-19 be promoted, developed, and commercialized includes research in
3-20 recycling processes and recyclable materials.
3-21 SECTION 4. Subsection (a), Section 481.078, Government Code,
3-22 is amended to read as follows:
3-23 (a) The department may develop and plan programs for the
3-24 purpose of promoting and encouraging the location and expansion of
3-25 major industrial, <and> manufacturing, and recycling enterprises
4-1 within this state and may coordinate, with the consent of local
4-2 governments, the activities of the local governments related to the
4-3 programs, including financing options available under existing law
4-4 and this section for that purpose.
4-5 SECTION 5. Subsection (a), Section 481.103, Government Code,
4-6 is amended to read as follows:
4-7 (a) The office shall:
4-8 (1) examine the role of small and disadvantaged
4-9 businesses in the state's economy and the contribution of small and
4-10 disadvantaged businesses in generating economic activity, expanding
4-11 employment opportunities, promoting exports, stimulating innovation
4-12 and entrepreneurship, and bringing new and untested products and
4-13 services to the marketplace;
4-14 (2) serve as the principal advocate in the state on
4-15 behalf of small and disadvantaged businesses and provide advice in
4-16 the consideration of administrative requirements and legislation
4-17 that affect small and disadvantaged businesses;
4-18 (3) evaluate the effectiveness of efforts of state
4-19 agencies and other entities to assist small and disadvantaged
4-20 businesses and make appropriate recommendations to assist the
4-21 development and strengthening of small and disadvantaged business
4-22 enterprise;
4-23 (4) identify specific instances in which regulations
4-24 inhibit small and disadvantaged business development and to the
4-25 extent possible identify conflicting state policy goals;
5-1 (5) determine the availability of financial and other
5-2 resources to small and disadvantaged businesses and recommend
5-3 methods for:
5-4 (A) increasing the availability of equity
5-5 capital and other forms of financial assistance to small and
5-6 disadvantaged businesses;
5-7 (B) generating markets for the goods and
5-8 services of small and disadvantaged businesses;
5-9 (C) providing more effective education,
5-10 training, and management and technical assistance to small and
5-11 disadvantaged businesses; and
5-12 (D) providing assistance to small and
5-13 disadvantaged businesses in complying with federal, state, and
5-14 local laws;
5-15 (6) describe the reasons for small and disadvantaged
5-16 business successes and failures, ascertain the related factors that
5-17 are particularly important in this state, and recommend actions for
5-18 increasing the success rate of small and disadvantaged businesses;
5-19 (7) serve as a focal point for receiving complaints
5-20 and suggestions concerning state government policies and activities
5-21 that affect small and disadvantaged businesses;
5-22 (8) assist with the resolution of problems among state
5-23 agencies and small and disadvantaged businesses;
5-24 (9) develop and advocate proposals for changes in
5-25 state policies and activities that adversely affect small and
6-1 disadvantaged businesses;
6-2 (10) provide to legislative committees and state
6-3 agencies information on the effects of proposed policies or actions
6-4 that affect small and disadvantaged businesses;
6-5 (11) enlist the assistance of public and private
6-6 agencies, businesses, and other organizations in disseminating
6-7 information about state programs and services that benefit small
6-8 and disadvantaged businesses and information regarding means by
6-9 which small and disadvantaged businesses can use those programs and
6-10 services;
6-11 (12) provide information and assistance relating to
6-12 establishing, operating, or expanding small and disadvantaged
6-13 businesses;
6-14 (13) establish and operate a statewide toll-free
6-15 telephone service providing small and disadvantaged businesses with
6-16 ready access to the services offered by the office;
6-17 (14) identify sources of financial assistance for
6-18 small and disadvantaged businesses, match small and disadvantaged
6-19 businesses with sources of financial assistance, and assist small
6-20 and disadvantaged businesses with the preparation of applications
6-21 for loans from governmental or private sources;
6-22 (15) sponsor meetings, to the extent practicable in
6-23 cooperation with public and private educational institutions, to
6-24 provide training and disseminate information beneficial to small
6-25 and disadvantaged businesses;
7-1 (16) assist small and disadvantaged businesses in
7-2 their dealings with federal, state, and local governmental agencies
7-3 and provide information regarding governmental requirements
7-4 affecting small and disadvantaged businesses;
7-5 (17) perform research, studies, and analyses of
7-6 matters affecting the interests of small and disadvantaged
7-7 businesses;
7-8 (18) develop and implement programs to encourage
7-9 governmental agencies, public sector business associations, and
7-10 other organizations to provide useful services to small and
7-11 disadvantaged businesses;
7-12 (19) use available resources within the state, such as
7-13 small business development centers, educational institutions, and
7-14 nonprofit associations, to coordinate the provision of management
7-15 and technical assistance to small and disadvantaged businesses in a
7-16 systematic manner;
7-17 (20) publish newsletters, brochures, and other
7-18 documents containing information useful to small and disadvantaged
7-19 businesses;
7-20 (21) identify successful small and disadvantaged
7-21 business assistance programs provided by other states and determine
7-22 the feasibility of adapting those programs for implementation in
7-23 this state;
7-24 (22) establish an outreach program to make the
7-25 existence of the office known to small and disadvantaged businesses
8-1 and potential clients throughout the state;
8-2 (23) adopt rules necessary to carry out this
8-3 subchapter;
8-4 (24) identify potential business opportunities for
8-5 small and disadvantaged businesses in the border region and develop
8-6 programs to maximize those opportunities;
8-7 (25) identify potential business opportunities for
8-8 small and disadvantaged businesses in rural areas of this state and
8-9 develop programs to maximize those opportunities; <and>
8-10 (26) provide technical assistance and market
8-11 development assistance to small and disadvantaged businesses that
8-12 recycle materials that have served their intended use or that are
8-13 scrapped, discarded, used, surplus, or obsolete by collecting,
8-14 separating, or processing the materials and returning the recycled
8-15 materials in the form of raw materials for use in the production of
8-16 new products; and
8-17 (27) perform any other functions necessary to carry
8-18 out the purposes of this subchapter.
8-19 SECTION 6. Section 481.105, Government Code, is amended to
8-20 read as follows:
8-21 Sec. 481.105. Participation in State Purchasing. The office
8-22 shall foster participation of small and disadvantaged businesses in
8-23 the purchasing activities of the state by:
8-24 (1) assisting state agencies in developing procedures
8-25 to ensure the inclusion of small businesses on state agency master
9-1 bid lists;
9-2 (2) informing small businesses of state purchasing
9-3 opportunities;
9-4 (3) assisting small businesses in complying with the
9-5 procedures for bidding on state contracts;
9-6 (4) working with state and federal agencies and with
9-7 private organizations in disseminating information on state
9-8 purchasing procedures and the opportunities for small businesses to
9-9 participate in state contracts;
9-10 (5) assisting state agencies with the development of a
9-11 comprehensive list of small businesses capable of providing
9-12 materials, supplies, equipment, or services to the state; <and>
9-13 (6) making recommendations to state agencies for
9-14 simplification of specifications and terms to increase the
9-15 opportunities for small business participation; and
9-16 (7) informing small and disadvantaged businesses of
9-17 state requirements or preferences for awarding state contracts to
9-18 businesses making efforts to recycle all materials that are capable
9-19 of being recycled.
9-20 SECTION 7. Subdivision (10), Section 2, Development
9-21 Corporation Act of 1979 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas Civil
9-22 Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
9-23 (10) "Project" shall mean the land, buildings,
9-24 equipment, facilities, and improvements (one or more) found by the
9-25 board of directors to be required or suitable for the promotion of
10-1 development and expansion of manufacturing and industrial
10-2 facilities, transportation facilities (including but not limited to
10-3 airports, ports, mass commuting facilities, and parking
10-4 facilities), sewage or solid waste disposal facilities, recycling
10-5 facilities, air or water pollution control facilities, facilities
10-6 for the furnishing of water to the general public, distribution
10-7 centers, small warehouse facilities capable of serving as
10-8 decentralized storage and distribution centers, and facilities
10-9 which are related to any of the foregoing, and in furtherance of
10-10 the public purposes of this Act, all as defined in the rules of the
10-11 department, irrespective of whether in existence or required to be
10-12 identified, acquired, or constructed thereafter. As used in this
10-13 Act, the term "development areas" shall mean any area or areas of a
10-14 city that the city finds and determines, after a public hearing,
10-15 should be developed in order to meet the development objectives of
10-16 the city. In addition, in blighted or economically depressed
10-17 areas, development areas or federally assisted new communities
10-18 located within a home-rule city or a federally designated
10-19 economically depressed county of less than 50,000 persons according
10-20 to the last federal decennial census, a project may include the
10-21 land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and improvements (one or
10-22 more) found by the board of directors to be required or suitable
10-23 for the promotion of commercial development and expansion and in
10-24 furtherance of the public purposes of this Act, or for use by
10-25 commercial enterprises, all as defined in the rules of the
11-1 department, irrespective of whether in existence or required to be
11-2 acquired or constructed thereafter. As used in this Act, the term
11-3 blighted or economically depressed areas shall mean those areas and
11-4 areas immediately adjacent thereto within a city which by reason of
11-5 the presence of a substantial number of substandard, slum,
11-6 deteriorated, or deteriorating structures, or which suffer from a
11-7 high relative rate of unemployment, or which have been designated
11-8 and included in a tax incremental district created under Chapter
11-9 695, Acts of the 66th Legislature, Regular Session, 1979 (Article
11-10 1066d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), or any combination of the
11-11 foregoing, the city finds and determines, after a hearing,
11-12 substantially impair or arrest the sound growth of the city, or
11-13 constitute an economic or social liability and are a menace to the
11-14 public health, safety, or welfare in their present condition and
11-15 use. The department shall adopt guidelines that describe the kinds
11-16 of areas that may be considered to be blighted or economically
11-17 depressed. The city shall consider these guidelines in making its
11-18 findings and determinations. Notice of the hearing at which the
11-19 city considers establishment of a development area or an
11-20 economically depressed or blighted area shall be posted at the city
11-21 hall before the hearing.
11-22 "Federally assisted new communities" shall mean those
11-23 federally assisted areas which have received or will receive
11-24 assistance in the form of loan guarantees under Title X of the
11-25 National Housing Act and a portion of the federally assisted area
12-1 has received grants under Section 107(a)(1) of the Housing and
12-2 Community Development Act of 1974, as amended.
12-3 SECTION 8. Subdivision (2), Subsection (a), Section 4B,
12-4 Development Corporation Act of 1979 (Article 5190.6, Vernon's Texas
12-5 Civil Statutes), is amended to read as follows:
12-6 (2) "Project" means land, buildings, equipment,
12-7 facilities, and improvements included in the definition of that
12-8 term under Section 2 of this Act, including recycling facilities,
12-9 and land, buildings, equipment, facilities, and improvements found
12-10 by the board of directors to be required or suitable for use for
12-11 professional and amateur (including children's) sports, athletic,
12-12 entertainment, tourist, convention, and public park purposes and
12-13 events, including stadiums, ball parks, auditoriums, amphitheaters,
12-14 concert halls, learning centers, parks and park facilities, open
12-15 space improvements, municipal buildings, museums, exhibition
12-16 facilities, and related store, restaurant, concession, and
12-17 automobile parking facilities, related area transportation
12-18 facilities, and related roads, streets, and water and sewer
12-19 facilities, and other related improvements that enhance any of
12-20 those items.
12-21 SECTION 9. Subsections (a) and (e), Section 361.013, Health
12-22 and Safety Code, are amended to read as follows:
12-23 (a) Except as provided by Subsection (e), the department
12-24 shall charge a fee on solid waste that is disposed of within this
12-25 state. The fee is the greater of 50 cents per ton or, for
13-1 compacted solid waste, 50 cents per cubic yard or, for uncompacted
13-2 solid waste, 10 cents per cubic yard received for disposal at a
13-3 landfill. The department shall set the fee for sludge or similar
13-4 waste applied to the land for beneficial use on a dry weight basis
13-5 and for solid waste received at an incinerator <or a shredding and
13-6 composting facility> at half the fee set for solid waste received
13-7 for disposal at a landfill. The department may charge comparable
13-8 fees for other means of solid waste disposal that are used.
13-9 (e)(1) The department may not charge a fee under Subsection
13-10 (a) for scrap tires that are deposited in a designated recycling
13-11 collection area at a landfill permitted by the commission or the
13-12 department or licensed by a county or by a political subdivision
13-13 exercising the authority granted by Section 361.165 and that are
13-14 temporarily stored for eventual recycling, reuse, or energy
13-15 recovery.
13-16 (2) No fee may be charged under Subsection (a) for
13-17 materials received at a composting facility, including a composting
13-18 facility located at a permitted landfill site, that are converted
13-19 to compost through the composting process.
13-20 SECTION 10. Section 361.422, Health and Safety Code, is
13-21 amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
13-22 (d) Before January 1, 1994, the commission shall determine
13-23 whether the goal established in Subsection (a) is being achieved.
13-24 If the commission finds that the goal is not being achieved, no
13-25 person may dispose of yard waste in a sanitary landfill after
14-1 adoption of rules implementing this subsection. The commission
14-2 shall adopt rules implementing the prohibition under this
14-3 subsection within 90 days of its finding.
14-4 SECTION 11. Section 361.423, Health and Safety Code, is
14-5 amended to read as follows:
14-6 Sec. 361.423. RECYCLING MARKET DEVELOPMENT BOARD <STUDY> AND
14-7 IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM. (a) The Commissioner of the General Land
14-8 Office<, in cooperation with the department>, the chairman of the
14-9 Texas Water Commission, the chair of the General Services
14-10 <Railroad> Commission <of Texas>, and the executive director of the
14-11 Texas Department of Commerce<,> shall constitute the Recycling
14-12 Market Development Board. The Commissioner of the General Land
14-13 Office serves as the chair of the Recycling Market Development
14-14 Board initially, and the position of chair shall rotate among the
14-15 members annually thereafter. The Recycling Market Development
14-16 Board may designate chief executives of additional agencies as
14-17 members of the board if it identifies the agencies as agencies
14-18 needed to assist the board in performing its duties as outlined in
14-19 Subsection (b). The Recycling Market Development Board shall
14-20 provide support to and coordinate the recycling activities of
14-21 member agencies and shall pursue <initiate, coordinate, and conduct
14-22 a comprehensive market development study that quantifies the
14-23 potential benefits and costs of recycling in order to provide the
14-24 groundwork for> an economic development strategy that focuses on
14-25 the state's waste management priorities established by Section
15-1 361.022 and that includes development of recycling industries and
15-2 markets as an integrated component.
15-3 (b) The Recycling Market Development Board, on an ongoing
15-4 basis, <study> shall:
15-5 (1) identify existing economic and regulatory
15-6 incentives and disincentives for creating an optimal market
15-7 development strategy;
15-8 (2) analyze the market development implications of:
15-9 (A) the state's waste management policies and
15-10 regulations;
15-11 (B) existing and potential markets for plastic,
15-12 glass, paper, lead-acid batteries, tires, compost, scrap gypsum,
15-13 and other recyclable materials; and
15-14 (C) the state's tax structure and overall
15-15 economic base;
15-16 (3) examine and make policy recommendations regarding
15-17 the need for changes in or the development of:
15-18 (A) economic policies that affect
15-19 transportation, such as those embodied in freight rate schedules;
15-20 (B) tax incentives and disincentives;
15-21 (C) the availability of financial capital
15-22 including grants, loans, and venture capital;
15-23 (D) enterprise zones;
15-24 (E) managerial and technical assistance;
15-25 (F) job-training programs;
16-1 (G) strategies for matching market supply and
16-2 market demand for recyclable materials, including intrastate and
16-3 interstate coordination;
16-4 (H) the state recycling goal;
16-5 (I) public-private partnerships;
16-6 (J) research and development;
16-7 (K) government procurement policies;
16-8 (L) educational programs for the public,
16-9 corporate and regulated communities, and government entities; and
16-10 (M) public health and safety regulatory
16-11 policies; <and>
16-12 (4) establish a comprehensive statewide strategy to
16-13 expand markets for recycled products in Texas; and
16-14 (5) provide information and technical assistance to
16-15 small and disadvantaged businesses, business development centers,
16-16 chambers of commerce, educational institutions, and nonprofit
16-17 associations on market opportunities in the area of recycling.
16-18 (c) In carrying out this section <preparing the study>, the
16-19 responsible agencies may obtain research and development and
16-20 technical assistance from the Hazardous Waste Research Center at
16-21 Lamar University at Beaumont or other similar institutions.
16-22 (d) The General Land Office shall provide ongoing research
16-23 and assistance to the Recycling Market Development Board in the
16-24 carrying out of its responsibilities.
16-25 (e) The Texas Water Commission shall develop and carry out a
17-1 program designed to implement the recommendations of the
17-2 comprehensive market development study completed pursuant to
17-3 Section 1, Chapter 303, Acts of the 72nd Legislature, Regular
17-4 Session, 1991, and the comprehensive statewide strategy established
17-5 pursuant to Subsection (b)(4).
17-6 SECTION 12. Subchapter N, Chapter 361, Health and Safety
17-7 Code, is amended by adding Section 361.4261 to read as follows:
17-8 Sec. 361.4261. STATE AGENCY EXPENDITURES FOR RECYCLED
17-9 MATERIALS. State agencies shall expend a minimum of five percent
17-10 in fiscal year 1994 and eight percent for each fiscal year
17-11 thereafter for materials, supplies, and equipment that have
17-12 recycled material content or are remanufactured or environmentally
17-13 sensitive, as those terms are defined by the General Services
17-14 Commission. A report of the total expenditures in these areas and
17-15 the amount expended in each category for the previous fiscal year
17-16 shall be delivered to the governor, the Legislative Budget Board,
17-17 the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
17-18 representatives not later than January 1 of each year.
17-19 SECTION 13. Section 361.428, Health and Safety Code, is
17-20 amended to read as follows:
17-21 Sec. 361.428. Composting Program. (a) <The Municipal Solid
17-22 Waste Management and Resource Recovery Advisory Council of the
17-23 department shall develop recommendations for the 73rd Legislature
17-24 regarding the development of a state composting program. In
17-25 developing these recommendations, the council shall, at a minimum,
18-1 consider:>
18-2 <(1) the development of local yard waste separation
18-3 programs;>
18-4 <(2) the commercial application of composting
18-5 activities;>
18-6 <(3) the potential beneficial uses of compost; and>
18-7 <(4) the necessary changes to existing law and
18-8 regulations required to facilitate conversion of yard waste to
18-9 compost.>
18-10 <(b)> The commission <department> shall put in place a
18-11 composting program that is capable of achieving at least a 15
18-12 percent reduction in the amount of the municipal solid waste stream
18-13 that is disposed of in landfills by January 1, 1994.
18-14 (b) The commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum
18-15 standards and guidelines for the issuance of permits for processes
18-16 or facilities which produce compost that is the product of material
18-17 from the typical mixed solid waste stream generated by residential,
18-18 commercial, or industrial sources which is source-separated
18-19 material or material separated at a central processing facility.
18-20 The standards shall to the maximum extent practicable conform to
18-21 regulations issued by the United States Environmental Protection
18-22 Agency. Any reduction in the mixed solid waste stream that occurs
18-23 as a result of a permit issued under this subsection shall be used
18-24 in achieving the goal established in Section 361.422.
18-25 SECTION 14. Section 361.452, Health and Safety Code, is
19-1 amended to read as follows:
19-2 Sec. 361.452. Collection for Recycling. A person selling
19-3 lead-acid batteries at retail or offering lead-acid batteries for
19-4 retail sale in this state shall:
19-5 (1) accept from customers<, if offered, at the point
19-6 of transfer,> used lead-acid batteries for recycling <of the type
19-7 and in a quantity at least equal to the number of new batteries
19-8 purchased>; and
19-9 (2) post written notice, which must be at least 8-1/2
19-10 inches by 11 inches in size, containing the universal recycling
19-11 symbol and the following language:
19-12 (A) "It is illegal to discard or improperly
19-13 dispose of a motor-vehicle battery or other lead-acid battery.";
19-14 (B) "Recycle your used batteries."; and
19-15 (C) "State law requires us to accept used
19-16 motor-vehicle batteries or other lead-acid batteries for recycling
19-17 <in exchange for new batteries purchased>."
19-18 SECTION 15. Section 63.071, Agriculture Code, is amended by
19-19 adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:
19-20 (h) A person is not required to pay an inspection fee on
19-21 compost as defined by Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code.
19-22 SECTION 16. Section 481.295, Government Code, is amended by
19-23 adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
19-24 (c) The department and the advisory board may make a loan or
19-25 a loan guarantee to the governing body of an enterprise zone
20-1 designated as a recycling market development zone under Subchapter
20-2 AA to fund an activity that sustains or increases recycling
20-3 efforts.
20-4 SECTION 17. The Texas Natural Resource Conservation
20-5 Commission shall adopt the rules required by Subsection (b),
20-6 Section 361.428, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not
20-7 later than six months after the effective date of this Act.
20-8 SECTION 18. The importance of this legislation and the
20-9 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
20-10 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
20-11 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
20-12 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
20-13 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
20-14 passage, and it is so enacted.