HBA-CBW H.B. 906 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 906
By: Bosse
Land & Resource Management
3/23/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Coastal Coordination Council (council) administers the Texas coastal
management program linking federal, state, and local activities along the
coast.  Although small compared to many state programs, the council's grant
program is a vital part of Texas' coastal management efforts.  Despite the
federal grants that are awarded to the council to fund coastal management
efforts, the council lacks statutory guidance for administering these
funds.  

C.S.H.B. 906 provides for the continuation of council and implements the
recommendations of the Sunset Advisory Commission. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Coastal Coordination Council in
SECTION 3 (Section 33.204, Natural Resources Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 906 amends the Natural Resources Code to provide for the
continuation of the Coastal Coordination Council (council) until 2013 (Sec.
33.211). The bill authorizes the council to award grants to projects that
further the goals of and policies of the council.  The bill requires the
council by rule to establish the procedures for making any determination
related to awarding a grant (Sec. 33.204).   

The bill modifies the composition of the council to include the city or
county elected official who resides in the coastal area (Sec. 33.2041). The
bill removes a provision that authorizes the council to appoint only
persons who live in the Texas coastal area to the advisory committee (Sec.
33.052).  The bill authorizes the council to review a proposed action of an
agency or subdivision if any member of the council other than the director
of the Texas A&M University Sea Grant Program, rather than any three
members, agree that there is a significant unresolved dispute regarding the
proposed action's consistency with the goals and policies  of the coastal
management program (Sec. 33.205).  The bill requires the council to report
to the legislature on the population growth of, infrastructure needs of,
and use of resources on the coast (Sec. 33.207).  

The bill also sets forth standard Sunset Advisory Commission
recommendations regarding public testimony, equal employment, conflicts of
interest, member removal, standards of conduct, member training, and the
maintaining of written complaints (Secs. 33.204, 33.2041-33.2045, and
33.212). 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.