SRC-TJG H.B. 1791 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 1791
78R11365 SGA-FBy: Chisum (Armbrister)
State Affairs
5/19/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current law allows grease collected from commercial grease traps to be
applied to compost. H.B. 1791 requires facilities that are composting
grease trap waste to be permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality in SECTION 2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 361.428, Health and Safety Code, by adding
Subsections (d) and (e), as follows: 

(d) Prohibits a person from commercially composting grease trap waste, as
defined by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), unless
the person has first obtained a permit for composting grease trap waste
issued by TCEQ under this section on or after September 1, 2003. 

(e) Requires the permit to compost grease trap waste to meet the minimum
standards of a permit issued under rules adopted under Subsection (b). 

SECTION 2.  (a) Requires TCEQ to take certain actions, including adopting
any rules necessary for the implementation of this Act, not later than
November 1, 2003, and to take other certain actions not later than January
1, 2004. 

(b) Provides that this Act does not prohibit a person who is engaged in
the business of composting grease trap waste on the effective date of this
Act from continuing to engage in that business if the person takes certain
actions. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.