SRC-TBR S.B. 905 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 905
JJT-DBy: Shapleigh
Business & Commerce
3/28/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, there are more than 400 brick-making kilns in Juarez, Mexico
that are a significant source of air pollution for the El Paso-Juarez area.
As proposed, S.B. 905 requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission to conduct a comprehensive study of the brick-making process
along the Texas-Mexico border. 

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.  DEFINITION.  Defines "commission."

SECTION 2.  BRICK-MAKING PROCESSES STUDY.  (a)  Requires the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission (commission) to conduct a study of the
brick-making processes of brick production facilities near both sides of
the border between this state and Mexico. 

(b)  Requires the commission to survey current fuel sources for kilns,
including the use of scrap wood and sawdust, tires, and other inefficient
or highly polluting fuels. 

(c)  Requires the commission, in conducting the study, to solicit the
advice of experts from institutions of higher education, government, and
industry of the United States and Mexico on efficient processes and fuels
for maintaining proper temperatures for brick production while minimizing
emissions of air pollutants. 

(d)  Requires the commission to consider the information collected in the
study and make recommendations on efficient processes to decrease air
pollutant emissions from brick-making kilns. 

(e)  Requires the commission to issue a report to the governor, lieutenant
governor, and speaker of the house of representatives that summarizes the
information gathered in and conclusions of the study and that highlights
the recommendations.  Requires the report to be issued not later than
January 1, 2003. 

SECTION 3.  EXPIRATION.  Provides that this Act expires January 1, 2003.

SECTION 4.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1,
2001.