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.