By: Patterson, J. S.B. No. 1484 73R9120 MI-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the disposal of yard waste; providing a civil penalty. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter N, Chapter 361, Health and Safety 1-5 Code, is amended by adding Section 361.4285 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 361.4285. DISPOSAL OF YARD WASTE; CIVIL PENALTY. (a) 1-7 A person may not dispose of yard waste at a solid waste facility 1-8 unless the yard waste has been separated at its source from other 1-9 solid waste and is accepted by a solid waste facility for soil 1-10 conditioning, composting, or landcover. 1-11 (b) The commission shall assist local communities in 1-12 developing collection systems for yard waste generated from 1-13 residences and in establishing local composting facilities. 1-14 (c) The commission by rule shall adopt standards for the 1-15 safe and proper processing and composting of yard waste. 1-16 (d) A person who violates this section or a rule adopted 1-17 under this section is liable for a civil penalty as provided by 1-18 Section 361.223, except that the minimum penalty is $1,000. 1-19 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect January 1, 1996. 1-20 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.