SRC-MWN C.S.H.B. 987 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 987
77R14263 MI-DBy: Oliveira (Truan)
Natural Resources
4/28/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Some areas in Texas lack trash disposal service or offer this service at
costs unaffordable to many residents. Consequently, residents bury, burn,
or dump their trash illegally, creating a threat to public health and
safety. Provisions under the Health and Safety Code give counties the
authority to regulate trash collection service in unincorporated areas. In
many cases, an effective mechanism to collect user fees associated with
this service is lacking. C.S.H.B 987 provides these economically distressed
counties the authority to contract with a public or private utility to
collect solid waste disposal fees.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 364.034, Health and Safety Code, as follows:

Sec. 364.034. New heading: SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL SERVICE; FEES. 
 
(b) Authorizes a fee for a service provided under this section to be
collected by certain entities. 

(c) Authorizes a county to contract with a public or private utility to
collect a fee for a service provided under this section. Authorizes the
contract to require or contain certain criteria. 

(d) Provides that to aid enforcement of fee collection for the solid waste
disposal service certain entities are authorized to perform certain
procedures. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2002.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. Differs from the As Filed H.B.987 version by replacing
previously proposed Chapter 364C, Health and Safety Code, and replace
proposed Section 364.034, Health and Safety Code. 

SECTION 2. New effective date.