SRC-MKV S.B. 1026 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1026
77R8639 TBy: Lindsay
Natural Resources
3/21/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current statute authorizes the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
Commission (TNRCC) to use revenues from the air emission fee to support
activities associated with Titles IV and V of the federal Clean Air Act.
S.B. 1026 amends Section 382.0622(c) of the Health and Safety Code to
expand the use of revenues collected by TNRCC from the air emission fee.
It will allow TNRCC to use revenues appropriated from the collection of the
air emission fee to support related activities, such as monitoring,
modeling, inspections and near nonattainment  grants, in addition to Titles
IV and V.  TNRCC will still be required to demonstrate to the federal
Environmental Protection Agency that sufficient resources are available to
support the activities associated with Titles IV and V of the federal Clean
Air Act. 

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 382.0622, (Health and Safety Code), by amending
Subsection (c) to require fees collected under Section 382.0621(a) to be
appropriated at least sufficient to cover costs of developing and
administering the federal permit program under Titles IV and V of the
federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Sections 7651 et. seq. and 7661 et. seq.).
Requires any fees collected under Section 382.0621(a) in excess of the
amounts necessary to cover costs specified by Section 382.0621(b) to be
appropriated and used to safeguard the air resources of this state as
necessary to address potential or actual environmental impacts reasonably
related to the activities of the fee payers. 

SECTION 2.  Authorizes revenue dedicated to a particular purpose under law
in effect on August 31, 2001, that has not been expended by that date to be
used for the purposes authorized under this Act.