1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the advisory function of the Texas Radiation Advisory

 1-3     Board.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 401.019, Health and Safety Code, is

 1-6     amended to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 401.019.  Advisory Board Duties.  The advisory board

 1-8     shall:

 1-9                 (1)  review and evaluate state radiation policies and

1-10     programs;

1-11                 (2)  make recommendations [to the department] and

1-12     furnish technical advice that may be required on matters relating

1-13     to development, use, and regulation of sources of radiation to the

1-14     department, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the

1-15     Railroad Commission of Texas, and other state agencies; and

1-16                 (3)  review proposed [department] rules and guidelines

1-17     of the department, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation

1-18     Commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and other state

1-19     agencies relating to regulation of sources of radiation and

1-20     recommend changes in proposed or existing rules and guidelines

1-21     relating to those matters.

1-22           SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 401, Health and Safety

1-23     Code, is amended by adding Section 401.020 to read as follows:

1-24           Sec. 401.020.  DUTY OF AGENCIES WITH RADIATION-RELATED

 2-1     PROGRAMS.  A state agency shall:

 2-2                 (1)  consider the recommendations and advice of the

 2-3     advisory board that concern the agency's policies or programs

 2-4     related to the development, use, or regulation of a source of

 2-5     radiation; and

 2-6                 (2)  provide the advisory board a written response to

 2-7     the recommendations or advice.

 2-8           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-9     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-13     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-14     passage, and it is so enacted.

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 212 was passed by the House on April

         3, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 146, Nays 0, 2 present, not

         voting.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 212 was passed by the Senate on May

         19, 1997, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor