1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of the Texas Natural Resource
 1-3     Conservation Commission to participate in environmental projects in
 1-4     Mexico and to study means to reduce air pollutants in certain
 1-5     facilities in the border region.
 1-6           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 5, Water Code, is amended
 1-8     by adding Section 5.127 to read as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 5.127.  ACTIONS IN MEXICO.  The commission may take and
1-10     finance any action in Mexico, in cooperation with governmental
1-11     authorities of Mexico, that in the opinion of the commission:
1-12                 (1)  is necessary or convenient to accomplish a duty of
1-13     the commission imposed by law; and
1-14                 (2)  will yield benefits to the environment in this
1-15     state.
1-16           SECTION 2.  BRICK-MAKING PROCESSES STUDY.  (a)  The Texas
1-17     Natural Resource Conservation Commission, in cooperation with the
1-18     Joint Advisory Committee for Improvement of Air Quality, shall
1-19     conduct a study of the brick-making processes of brick production
1-20     facilities near both sides of the border between this state and
1-21     Mexico.
1-22           (b)  The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall
1-23     survey current fuel sources for kilns, including the use of scrap
1-24     wood and sawdust, tires, and other inefficient or highly polluting
1-25     fuels.
 2-1           (c)  In conducting the study, the Texas Natural Resource
 2-2     Conservation Commission shall solicit the advice of experts from
 2-3     institutions of higher education, government, and industry of the
 2-4     United States and Mexico on efficient processes and fuels for
 2-5     maintaining proper temperatures for brick production while
 2-6     minimizing emissions of air pollutants.
 2-7           (d)  The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall
 2-8     consider the information collected in the study and make
 2-9     recommendations on efficient processes to decrease air pollutant
2-10     emissions from brick-making kilns.
2-11           (e)  The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission shall
2-12     issue a report to the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of
2-13     the house of representatives that summarizes the information
2-14     gathered in and conclusions of the study and that highlights the
2-15     recommendations.  The report must be issued not later than January
2-16     1, 2003.
2-17           (f)  This section expires January 1, 2003.
2-18           SECTION 3.  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.
                                                                S.B. No. 749
            _______________________________     _______________________________
                President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
                  I hereby certify that S.B. No. 749 passed the Senate on
            April 18, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays 1, one
            present not voting; and that the Senate concurred in House
            amendment on May 27, 2001, by a viva-voce vote.
                                                _______________________________
                                                    Secretary of the Senate
                  I hereby certify that S.B. No. 749 passed the House, with
            amendment, on May 23, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 136,
            Nays 0, one present not voting.
                                                _______________________________
                                                   Chief Clerk of the House
            Approved:
            _______________________________
                         Date
            _______________________________
                       Governor