SRC-MKV C.S.H.B. 3315 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 3315 By: Ramsay (Bernsen) Natural Resources 5/10/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, the commissioners court of a county is authorized to prohibit certain outdoor burning activities in areas where drought conditions exist if it is to the benefit of the public. The law provides exceptions from the burn ban, but activities relating to planting agriculture crops are not currently exempt. C.S.H.B. 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 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 240.906(f), Local Government Code, as added by Chapter 1435, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, to add language to provide that this section does not apply to outdoor burning activities related to public health and safety that are authorized by the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission for planting or harvesting of agricultural crops or to activities that are conducted by a prescribed burn manager certified under Section 153.048, Natural Resources Code, and meets the standards of Section 153.047. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.