BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 283 By: Cuellar, H. (Zaffirini) Water 05-26-95 Senate Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Environmental problems on the Texas-Mexico border may be more severe than in other areas of Texas, in part because of the influx of pollution from Mexico. As a result, the physical appearance and biological quality of the Rio Grande may be more threatened than other areas of the state. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.H.B. 283 provides for the powers and duties of certain constables to enforce environmental laws affecting the Rio Grande. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 86, Local Government Code, by adding Subchapter D, as follows: SUBCHAPTER D. POWERS AND DUTIES RELATING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF RIO GRANDE Sec. 86.041. LEGISLATIVE FINDING. Provides that the legislature finds that ensuring a high standard of environmental quality for the Rio Grande is a matter of concern to the entire state. Sec. 86.042. COUNTY SUBJECT TO SUBCHAPTER. Sets forth counties to which this subchapter applies. Sec. 86.043. ENVIRONMENTAL TRAINING OF COUNTY CONSTABLES. (a) Authorizes the commissioners court of the county to authorize a constable and the constable's deputies to seek environmental training from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC). (b) Requires TNRCC, at a minimum, to design and certify the training to familiarize constables and deputies with the investigation of environmental violations. Authorizes TNRCC to assess a fee against a county that authorizes training under this section to recover the cost of the training. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.