ACG H.B. 1960 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION H.B. 1960 By: Howard 3-11-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND The Pollution Prevention Council (PPC) was established by statute in 1991 to promote the coordination of pollution prevention programs administered by the Texas Water Commission (TWC), the Texas Air Control Board (TACB), Texas Department of Health (TDH) and the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC). However, after the consolidation of the TWC and the TACB into the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), and the transfer of the majority of environmental programs from TDH to TNRCC, the remaining agencies involved are the TNRCC and the RRC. The PPC continues to meet quarterly, though the entity has discovered no discrepancies in the program administration between the TNRCC and the RRC in the past two years. Additionally, the two agencies have a memorandum of understanding which serves the same purpose as the PPC. Moreover, the TNRCC currently coordinates pollution prevention assistance projects with other state agencies independent of the PPC. PURPOSE HB 1960 will abolish the Pollution Prevention Council. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code, Section 361.0215(b) by deleting statutory references to the Pollution Prevention Council, and renumbering the remaining sections accordingly. SECTION 2. Repeals Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code, Section 361.0211 which established the Pollution Prevention Council. SECTION 3.Emergency Clause.