SRC-MSY C.S.S.B. 695 78(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 695
By: Janek
State Affairs
3/18/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law allows counties to regulate fireworks in unincorporated
areas only during drought conditions.  C.S.S.B. 695 authorizes the
commissioners court of a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico to
regulate the use of aerial fireworks on a beach. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 61.122, Natural Resources Code, by adding
Subsection (g) to authorize the commissioners court of a county bordering
on the Gulf of Mexico or its tidewater limits and adjacent to a county
with a population of 3.2 million or more to prohibit, by order, the use or
possession of any aerial fireworks on a beach in the unincorporated area
of the county.  Defines "aerial fireworks" for the purposes of this
subsection. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.



SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Differs from original by providing that a county must be
adjacent to a county with a population of 3.2 million or more in addition
to bordering on the Gulf of Mexico or its tidewater limits. Adds fireworks
that have a total pyrotechnic composition that does not exceed twenty
grams each in weight, fireworks that have an inside tube diameter that
does not exceed one-half inch, and fireworks that have rocket sticks
securely fastened to the tube to the definition of "aerial fireworks."