SRC-AAA S.B. 1595 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1595 By: Ellis Finance 4-4-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, small businesses are required to have pollution control equipment. Many small businesses are forced to purchase expensive environmental pollution control equipment and conduct environmental audits. This bill would promote compliance with environmental regulations by small businesses by providing loan guarantees for the purchase of environmental pollution control equipment. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 1595 would promote compliance with environmental regulations by small businesses by providing loan guarantees for the purchase of environmental pollution control equipment. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is granted to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 382.0366(e), Health and Safety Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 382B, Health and Safety Code, as follows: Sec. 382.0366. SMALL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE FUNDING PROGRAM. Requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (commission) to establish and operate the small business environmental compliance funding program (program). Sets forth the purpose of the program. Provides that the small business environmental compliance fund (fund) is an account in the general revenue fund in the state treasury. Sets forth the contents of the account. Sets forth limits on fines and penalties deposited into the account. Sets forth uses for money in the account. Requires loan guarantees to be administered by a contractor. Requires the commission to select the contractor in a certain manner. Authorizes the commission to contract with an entity to manage and administer loan guarantees according to certain guidelines. Sets forth requirements of the contract. Requires the commission to adopt rules with regard to the fund. Requires the program to be administered to achieve equitable distribution of credit availability. Requires the commission to issue a report on the activities of the program. Sets forth requirements of the report. Defines "financial institution," "program," and "small business." SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.