BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         S.B. 290
                                                    By: Henderson
                                                Natural Resources
                                                         01-31-95
                                     Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

The federal Clean Air Act of 1990 requires all states to develop
and implement pollution-reduction plans in "severe areas."  The
Employer Trip Reduction Plan is one of the programs, requiring each
employer in a nonattainment area with 100 or more employees to
increase average passenger occupancy per vehicle in commuting trips
between home and the workplace during peak travel periods.  The
average occupancy per vehicle rate must be increased by at least 25
percent.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 290 suspends the implementation of the employer
trip reduction program for 180 days after this Act takes effect.

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.  (a) Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (commission) to immediately suspend, for 180 days after
this Act takes effect, implementation of the employer trip
reduction program prescribed by Section 182(d)(1)(B) of the federal
Clean Air Act and to be developed by an administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency.

     (b) Provides that an employer required by rule of the
     commission to perform act to comply with the employer trip
     reduction program is not required to perform the act for the
     same time period.
     
SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.