1-1 By: Lewis of Tarrant (Senate Sponsor - Moncrief) H.B. No. 2844 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House May 7, 2001; 1-3 May 7, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on Health 1-4 and Human Services; May 11, 2001, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 11, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to authorizing the Texas Board of Health to exempt certain 1-9 projects from rules relating to asbestos abatement. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Section 12, Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act 1-12 (Article 4477-3a, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by 1-13 adding Subsection (o) to read as follows: 1-14 (o) The board may exempt a demolition or renovation project 1-15 from the rules relating to demolition and renovation activities 1-16 adopted under Subsection (k) if: 1-17 (1) the project has received an exemption from the 1-18 United States Environmental Protection Agency exempting the project 1-19 from federal regulations; or 1-20 (2) the board determines that: 1-21 (A) the project will use methods for the 1-22 abatement or removal of asbestos that provide protection for the 1-23 public health and safety at least equivalent to the protection 1-24 provided by the procedures required under board rule for the 1-25 abatement or removal of asbestos; and 1-26 (B) the project does not violate federal law. 1-27 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 1-28 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 1-29 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 1-30 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 1-31 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 1-32 * * * * *