Floor Packet page Nos. 14 and 15
      Amend CSHB 2912 as follows:
(1) On page 14, line 23, between "5.1772" and "to" add "and
5.1773".
(2) On page 15, between lines 26 and 27, add a new Section 5.1773
to read as follows:
Sec. 5.1773 PAYMENTS TO INDIVIDUALS. (a)  The commission by rule
shall provide for payments to a person who reports information
concerning violations or suspected violations of environmental laws
that substantially contributes to the assessment of a criminal,
civil, or administrative penalty for the violation of such
environmental law.  The payment shall be in an amount equal to five
percent of the fine or civil or administrative penalty ordered or
agreed to by the alleged violator and collected by the state but
not to exceed $500.00, if the fine or penalty is attributable to
information concerning a violation of an environmental law reported
to the state by the person through use of a toll-free telephone
line maintained in conjunction with the Smoking Vehicle hotline or
otherwise.
      (b) The state or local attorney in charge of the criminal
procecution of an alleged violator or the action to recover a civil
or administrative penalty from an alleged violator shall determine
whether information concerning the violation substantially
contributed to obtaining the assessment of a criminal, civil, or
administrative penalty or an agreement with the alleged violator
for the payment of a fine or penalty.
      (c) The commission by rule shall provide that an amount equal
to not more than five percent of the total amount of fines or civil
or administrative penalties assessed by the state or agreed to by
the alleged violator and collected by the state in a fiscal year
for an alleged violation of an environmental law shall be deposited
into a special account in the general revenue fund to be used only
for the investigation of alleged violations of environmental law
and for payments authorized under this section.
      (d)  In this section, "environmental law" means a state or
local statute, rule, order, ordinance, or other law that prohibits
conduct that may result in pollution of the environment.