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.
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