By Burnam H.B. No. 2372
77R5923 JAT-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to the role of the Texas Natural Resource Conservation
1-3 Commission in economic development of the state.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 361.0231(a), Health and Safety Code, is
1-6 amended to read as follows:
1-7 (a) To protect the public health and environment[, encourage
1-8 economic development,] and assure the continuation of the federal
1-9 funding for abandoned facility response actions, it is the state
1-10 public policy that adequate capacity should exist for the proper
1-11 management of industrial and hazardous waste generated in this
1-12 state.
1-13 SECTION 2. Section 5.012, Water Code, is amended to read as
1-14 follows:
1-15 Sec. 5.012. DECLARATION OF POLICY. The commission is the
1-16 agency of the state given primary responsibility for implementing
1-17 the constitution and laws of this state relating to the
1-18 conservation of natural resources and the protection of the
1-19 environment. The commission is not responsible for fostering or
1-20 encouraging economic development.
1-21 SECTION 3. Section 26.003, Water Code, is amended to read as
1-22 follows:
1-23 Sec. 26.003. POLICY OF THIS SUBCHAPTER. It is the policy of
1-24 this state and the purpose of this subchapter to maintain the
2-1 quality of water in the state consistent with the public health and
2-2 enjoyment, the propagation and protection of terrestrial and
2-3 aquatic life, and the operation of existing industries[, and the
2-4 economic development of the state]; to encourage and promote the
2-5 development and use of regional and areawide waste collection,
2-6 treatment, and disposal systems to serve the waste disposal needs
2-7 of the citizens of the state; and to require the use of all
2-8 reasonable methods to implement this policy.
2-9 SECTION 4. Section 27.003, Water Code, is amended to read as
2-10 follows:
2-11 Sec. 27.003. POLICY AND PURPOSE. It is the policy of this
2-12 state and the purpose of this chapter to maintain the quality of
2-13 fresh water in the state to the extent consistent with the public
2-14 health and welfare and[,] the operation of existing industries,
2-15 [and the economic development of the state,] to prevent underground
2-16 injection that may pollute fresh water, and to require the use of
2-17 all reasonable methods to implement this policy.
2-18 SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-19 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-20 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
2-21 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-22 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.