SRC-MWN H.B. 1080 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1080
77R3979 DAK-DBy: McReynolds (Bivins)
Business & Commerce
5/8/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Wildfires are a dangerous and costly threat throughout Texas. Texas
landowners use prescribed burning as an efficient land management tool to
reduce vegetative fuels that can cause wildfires. The 76th legislature
established a board to certify burn managers to instruct people to properly
utilize prescribed burning. Current law requires a certified burn manager
to purchase liability insurance of at least $1 million dollar per
occurrence. H.B. 1080 requires a certified burn manager to also have a
minimum aggregate limit of at least $2 million dollars for a liability
insurance policy.  

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 153.082, Natural Resources Code, as follows:

Sec. 153.082. INSURANCE. Provides that the limitation on liability under
Section 153.081 does not apply to certain persons unless the certified
prescribed burn manager conducting a burn on the land has liability
insurance coverage of certain amounts. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.
                      Makes application of this Act prospective.