SRC-PNG C.S.S.B. 1500 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1500
76R11512 SMH-DBy: Lindsay
Natural Resources
4/12/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, under Texas law, property acquired by certain municipalities for
airport purposes may be used for wetland mitigation.  This bill would
prohibit the use of property acquired by certain municipalities as a site
for an airport for wetland mitigation. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.S.B. 1500 prohibits the use of property acquired by
certain municipalities as a site for  an airport for wetland mitigation. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 22B, Transportation Code, by adding Section
22.027, as follows: 

Sec. 22.027.  USE OF PROPERTY ACQUIRED AS SITE FOR AIRPORT.  Requires a
municipality of 1.5 million or more that acquires property for use as a
site for an  airport to use the property for that purpose and prohibits
using the property for any other purpose, including to provide a mitigation
credit under Section 404, Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C.
Section 1344), or under guidelines developed by the Secretary of the Army
under that section to offset an adverse impact to wetlands caused by the
discharge of dredged or fill material into the navigable waters at another
disposal site.  Provides that this section expires September 1, 2005. 

SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act retroactive.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Relating clause.

Amends the relating clause to state that the legislation relates to the use
of property acquired by certain municipalities as a site for an airport. 

SECTION 1. 

Amends Section 22.027, Transportation Code, to provide a new heading and
make conforming and nonsubstantive changes.