H.B. 1577 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1577 By: Gallego Natural Resources Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Swimmers, anglers, paddlers, and campers are potentially at risk from an injury from broken glass that may be in the state's riverbeds. Also, these containers pollute the riverbeds if they are not properly disposed of in trash bins. H.B. 1577 will create a safer environment on state-owned riverbeds by prohibiting the possession of glass containers within their boundaries. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS Section 1(a) amends Subchapter C, Chapter 365 of the Health and Safety Code by adding Section 365.035 to designate an offense if a person possesses a glass container within the boundaries of a state-owned riverbed. This is a Class C misdemeanor unless the defendant has previously been convicted of an offense under this section, in which it becomes a Class B misdemeanor. Section 1(b) does not hold persons accountable for prosecution if they did not transport the glass into the boundaries of the riverbed or if they possessed the glass container for the purposes of lawfully disposing of it. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003