SLC H.B. 3551 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS LAND & RESOURCE MANAGEMENT H.B. 3551 By: Zbranek 4-22-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND During the development of the Texas Coastal Management Program, the Coastal Coordination Council, which designed the program, established a coastal boundary zone that included all counties with any tidewater shoreline. This included Liberty County because the Trinity River does receive some tidal influence. Citizens and officials of Liberty County took the position that the small area of tidally influenced waters did not justify the inclusion of Liberty County within the coastal zone. The Council agreed that Liberty County should be removed from the coastal management zone. PURPOSE HB 3551 allows the removal of a portion of the Trinity River in Liberty County from the Coastal Management Program. 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. Sec. 33.203(7), Natural Resources Code, is amended as follows: (B) Excludes the portion of the Trinity River located in Liberty County from the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission's stream segment maps which help define the boundaries of the Coastal Management Plan. (D) Makes conforming language changes. SECTION 2. Emergency Clause.