C.S.H.B. 2847 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


C.S.H.B. 2847
By: Farabee
County Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
The Pit and Quarry program was instituted in 1991, and requires that
guardrails or barricades be constructed for any active pit or quarry
within 200 feet of a public roadway.  The Legislature assigned
administration and enforcement of the program to the Railroad Commission. 

The Legislature has decreased funding in this program every year since the
program's inception and currently only appropriates money for one FTE to
oversee and administer the statewide program. The Railroad Commission has
assigned the program as low priority primarily because the program is
underfunded and therefore not able to accomplish the original intended
goal.  Moreover, the Commission has addressed most hazardous concerns for
pits and quarries over which the Commission has jurisdiction. 

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
Repeals Chapter 133 of the Natural Resources Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2003

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute adds sections (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) to Section 1
of the original filed version.