By Berlanga, Hunter of Nueces H.B. No. 3229
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3229:
By Turner of Coleman C.S.H.B. No. 3229
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the establishment of the line of vegetation along the
1-3 Gulf of Mexico where a natural vegetation line does not exist.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 61.017, Natural Resources Code, is
1-6 amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-7 (c)(1) In an area of public beach where a seawall structure
1-8 constructed in its entirety as a single structure of one design
1-9 before 1970 and continuously maintained with a height of not less
1-10 than 11 feet above mean low tide interrupts the natural line of
1-11 vegetation for a distance not less than 4,000 feet nor greater than
1-12 4,500 feet, the line of vegetation is along the seaward side of the
1-13 seawall for the distance marked by the seawall provided that prior
1-14 to December 31, 1996:
1-15 (A) a perpetual easement has been granted in
1-16 favor of the public affording pedestrian, non-commercial use along
1-17 and over the entire length of the seawall and adjacent sidewalk by
1-18 the general public;
1-19 (B) Fee title to the surface estate to an area
1-20 for public parking and other public uses adjacent to the seawall
1-21 has been conveyed to and accepted by a public entity, which area
1-22 contains sufficient acreage to provide at least one parking space
1-23 for each 15 linear feet of the seawall, is located within the
2-1 center one-third of the length of the seawall, and has frontage on
2-2 the seawall for at least 300 linear feet; and
2-3 (C) permanent roadway easements exist within
2-4 1,000 feet of each end of the seawall affording vehicular access
2-5 from the nearest public road to the beach.
2-6 (2) A line of vegetation established as described in
2-7 this subsection shall be the landward boundary of the public beach
2-8 and of the public easement for all purposes. Fee title to all
2-9 submerged land as described in this code shall remain in the State
2-10 of Texas.
2-11 SECTION 2. The change in law made by Subsection (c), Section
2-12 61.017, Natural Resources Code, as added by this Act, establishes
2-13 the landward boundary of the public beach and of the public
2-14 easement in any instance in which the circumstances described in
2-15 Subsection (c), Section 61.017, Natural Resources Code, as added by
2-16 this Act, including the dedication of the public easement and the
2-17 conveyance of the public parking and use area, are completed prior
2-18 to December 31, 1996. Any court judgment in effect prior to the
2-19 effective date of this Act regarding circumstances described in
2-20 Subsection (c), Section 61.017, Natural Resources Code, is modified
2-21 by that section to the extent that the judgment is in conflict with
2-22 that section.
2-23 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
2-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
2-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-1 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-2 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-3 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.