By Madla                                               S.B. No. 823
       74R4082 JJT-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to standards for and accreditation of laboratories that
    1-3  perform work for the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
    1-4  Commission.
    1-5        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-6        SECTION 1.  (a) The Texas Natural Resource Conservation
    1-7  Commission by rule may adopt standards for laboratories that
    1-8  perform testing or other similar work for the commission.
    1-9        (b)  The standards may address testing procedures or methods,
   1-10  record keeping, disposal or retention of testing materials or
   1-11  samples, or any practice related to the laboratory's work for the
   1-12  commission.
   1-13        SECTION 2.  (a) The Texas Natural Resource Conservation
   1-14  Commission by rule may adopt an accreditation program for
   1-15  laboratories modeled on a program adopted by the United States
   1-16  Environmental Protection Agency.
   1-17        (b)  The commission may charge a fee to program participants
   1-18  in an amount necessary to cover costs associated with the program.
   1-19        (c)  The commission shall cooperate with and may seek advice
   1-20  from the United States Environmental Protection Agency in designing
   1-21  or implementing the accreditation program.
   1-22        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-23  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-24  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-1  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-2  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-3  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-4  passage, and it is so enacted.