S.B. 934 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 934
By: Jackson
Environmental Regulation
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) may accept
laboratory results from accredited laboratories or in-house and on-site
laboratories that are periodically inspected by TCEQ. As proposed, S.B.
934 clarifies that a company that hosts another company on the same site
can provide laboratory services that will be accepted by TCEQ; provides
that a company can use results from its own laboratories out-of-state if
TCEQ has reason to believe the laboratory is controlled as well as
laboratories are controlled in Texas; and allows TCEQ to accept laboratory
results from inhouse or on-site laboratories that are subject to
inspection when the work is being done for a state agency, a charitable
organization, or a public-private partnership.  

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.
Amends Section 5.127, Water Code, as added by Chapter 965, Acts of the
77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, by amending Subsections (a) and
(b) and adding Subsection (e), as follows: (a) Makes a conforming change
relating to the addition of proposed Subsection (e). (b) Authorizes TCEQ
to accept for use in TCEQ decisions data and analysis prepared by certain
entities, including an on-site or in-house environmental testing
laboratory if the laboratory is periodically inspected by TCEQ or is
located in another state and is accredited or periodically inspected by
that state. (e) Authorizes TCEQ to accept for use in TCEQ decisions data
from an on-site or in-house laboratory if the laboratory is performing the
work for another company with a unit located on the same site or without
compensation for a governmental agency or a charitable organization if the
laboratory is periodically inspected by TCEQ. 
SECTION 2. 
Effective date: September 1, 2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.