By Geren H.B. No. 1927
77R6448 YDB-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the installation of asbestos in public buildings;
1-3 providing penalties.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 161, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-6 by adding Subchapter Q to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER Q. INSTALLATION OF ASBESTOS
1-8 Sec. 161.401. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
1-9 (1) "Asbestos" means the asbestiform varieties of
1-10 chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and
1-11 actinolite.
1-12 (2) "Contractor" means a person who constructs,
1-13 repairs, or maintains a public building as an independent
1-14 contractor. The term includes a subcontractor.
1-15 (3) "Public building" means a building used or to be
1-16 used for purposes that provide for public access or occupancy. The
1-17 term does not include:
1-18 (A) an industrial facility to which access is
1-19 limited principally to employees of the facility because of
1-20 processes or functions that are hazardous to human safety or
1-21 health;
1-22 (B) a federal building or installation;
1-23 (C) a private residence;
1-24 (D) an apartment building with not more than
2-1 four dwelling units; or
2-2 (E) a manufacturing facility or building that is
2-3 part of a facility that is limited to workers and invited guests
2-4 under controlled conditions.
2-5 Sec. 161.402. ASBESTOS INSTALLATION OR REINSTALLATION
2-6 PROHIBITED. A person may not install or reinstall building
2-7 materials or replacement parts that contain more than one percent
2-8 of asbestos in a public building unless there is not an alternative
2-9 material or replacement part.
2-10 Sec. 161.403. INJUNCTION. (a) The attorney general or the
2-11 appropriate district or county attorney, in the name of the state,
2-12 may bring an action for an injunction or other process against a
2-13 contractor who is violating or threatening to violate this
2-14 subchapter. The action may be brought in a district court of
2-15 Travis County or of a county in which any part of the violation or
2-16 threatened violation occurs.
2-17 (b) The district court may grant any prohibitory or
2-18 mandatory relief warranted by the facts, including a temporary
2-19 restraining order, temporary injunction, or permanent injunction.
2-20 Sec. 161.404. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A contractor who
2-21 violates this subchapter is subject to a civil penalty not to
2-22 exceed $10,000 a day for each violation. Each day of violation
2-23 constitutes a separate violation for purposes of penalty
2-24 assessment.
2-25 (b) In determining the amount of the civil penalty, the
2-26 court shall consider:
2-27 (1) the contractor's previous violations;
3-1 (2) the seriousness of the violation, including the
3-2 nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
3-3 (3) whether the health and safety of the public was
3-4 threatened by the violation;
3-5 (4) the demonstrated good faith of the contractor; and
3-6 (5) the amount necessary to deter future violations.
3-7 (c) The attorney general or the appropriate district or
3-8 county attorney, in the name of the state, may bring an action
3-9 under this section in a district court of Travis County or of a
3-10 county in which any part of the violation occurs.
3-11 (d) The party bringing the suit may:
3-12 (1) combine a suit to assess and recover civil
3-13 penalties with a suit for injunctive relief brought under Section
3-14 161.403; or
3-15 (2) file a suit to assess and recover civil penalties
3-16 independently of a suit for injunctive relief.
3-17 (e) A penalty collected under this section by the attorney
3-18 general shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of
3-19 the general revenue fund. A penalty collected under this section
3-20 by a district or county attorney shall be deposited to the credit
3-21 of the general fund of the county in which the suit was heard.
3-22 Sec. 161.405. RECOVERY OF COSTS. The party bringing a suit
3-23 under Section 161.403 or 161.404 may recover reasonable expenses
3-24 incurred in obtaining injunctive relief, civil penalties, or both,
3-25 including investigation costs, court costs, reasonable attorney's
3-26 fees, witness fees, and deposition expenses.
3-27 Sec. 161.406. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The department
4-1 may impose an administrative penalty on a contractor who violates
4-2 this subchapter.
4-3 (b) The amount of the penalty may not exceed $10,000 a day
4-4 for a violation. Each day a violation continues or occurs is a
4-5 separate violation for the purpose of imposing a penalty.
4-6 (c) The penalty amount shall be based on:
4-7 (1) the seriousness of the violation, including the
4-8 nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation;
4-9 (2) the history of previous violations;
4-10 (3) the amount necessary to deter a future violation;
4-11 (4) efforts to correct the violation; and
4-12 (5) any other matter that justice may require.
4-13 (d) The enforcement of the penalty may be stayed during the
4-14 time the order is under judicial review if the contractor pays the
4-15 penalty to the clerk of the court or files a supersedeas bond with
4-16 the court in the amount of the penalty. A contractor who cannot
4-17 afford to pay the penalty or file the bond may stay the enforcement
4-18 by filing an affidavit in the manner required by the Texas Rules of
4-19 Civil Procedure for a party who cannot afford to file security for
4-20 costs, subject to the right of the department to contest the
4-21 affidavit as provided by those rules.
4-22 (e) The attorney general may sue to collect the penalty.
4-23 (f) A proceeding to impose the penalty is considered to be a
4-24 contested case under Chapter 2001, Government Code.
4-25 Sec. 161.407. REMEDIES CUMULATIVE. The civil penalty,
4-26 administrative penalty, and injunction authorized by this
4-27 subchapter are in addition to any other civil, administrative, or
5-1 criminal action provided by law.
5-2 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001, and
5-3 applies only to the installation or reinstallation of asbestos on
5-4 or after that date. The installation or reinstallation of asbestos
5-5 before the effective date of this Act is governed by the law in
5-6 effect on the date the asbestos was installed, and the former law
5-7 is continued in effect for that purpose.