HBA-TBM H.B. 3315 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3315 By: Ramsay County Affairs 7/17/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE State law authorizes the commissioners court of a county to prohibit certain outdoor burning activities in areas where drought conditions exist if it is to the benefit of the public. The law provided exceptions from the burn ban, but activities relating to planting agriculture crops were not exempt prior to the 77th Legislature. House Bill 3315 provides that such activities are exempt from the burn ban, and requires the Prescribed Burning Board to adopt standards and procedures regarding outdoor burning. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 3315 amends the Local Government Code to exempt outdoor burning activities related to planting agriculture crops and prescribed burns that are authorized by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission for the benefit of public health and safety from the burn ban applied to counties experiencing drought conditions. The bill also exempts burns conducted in compliance with standards and procedures adopted by the Prescribed Burning Board (board), and requires the board to adopt standards and procedures regarding outdoor burning. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.