1-1 By: Hardcastle, et al. (Senate Sponsor-Armbrister) H.B. No. 2205 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 26, 1999; 1-3 April 27, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Natural Resources; May 12, 1999, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 12, 1999, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the possession and transport of anhydrous ammonia and 1-9 to the use of anhydrous ammonia equipment; providing penalties. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 6, Health and Safety Code, is 1-12 amended by adding Chapter 504 to read as follows: 1-13 CHAPTER 504. ANHYDROUS AMMONIA 1-14 Sec. 504.001. OFFENSE: POSSESSION OR TRANSPORT. (a) A 1-15 person commits an offense if the person: 1-16 (1) possesses and maintains anhydrous ammonia in a 1-17 container or receptacle that is not designed and manufactured to 1-18 hold anhydrous ammonia; or 1-19 (2) transports anhydrous ammonia in a container or 1-20 receptacle that is not designed and manufactured to transport 1-21 anhydrous ammonia. 1-22 (b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony. 1-23 Sec. 504.002. OFFENSE: USE OF EQUIPMENT. (a) A person 1-24 commits an offense if the person: 1-25 (1) uses, delivers, or sells a container or receptacle 1-26 designed and manufactured to hold anhydrous ammonia without the 1-27 express consent of the owner of the container or receptacle; or 1-28 (2) tampers with equipment manufactured and used to 1-29 hold, apply, or transport anhydrous ammonia without the express 1-30 consent of the owner of the equipment. 1-31 (b) An offense under this section is a state jail felony. 1-32 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999. 1-33 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-34 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-35 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-36 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-37 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-38 * * * * *