79R4432 QS-F

By:  Janek                                                        S.B. No. 740



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain political subdivisions to 
erect or maintain shore protection structures and the location of 
the line of vegetation in relation to those structures.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 61.017, Natural Resources Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
	(e)  In an area of public beach where a shore protection 
structure constructed as provided by Section 61.022(a)(6) 
interrupts the natural line of vegetation for a distance of not more 
than 4,500 feet, the line of vegetation is along the seaward side of 
the shore protection structure for the distance marked by that 
structure.  A line of vegetation established under this subsection 
is the landward boundary of the public beach and of the public 
easement for all purposes.  The state retains fee title to all 
submerged land described by Section 11.012.
	SECTION 2.  Section 61.022, Natural Resources Code, is 
amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to 
read as follows:
	(a)  The provisions of this subchapter do not prevent any of 
the following governmental entities from erecting or maintaining 
any groin, seawall, barrier, pass, channel, jetty, or other 
structure as an aid to navigation, protection of the shore, 
fishing, safety, or other lawful purpose authorized by the 
constitution or laws of this state or the United States:
		(1)  an agency, department, institution, subdivision, 
or instrumentality of the federal government;
		(2)  an agency, department, institution, or 
instrumentality of this state;  
		(3)  a county;                                                                
		(4)  a municipality; [or]                                    
		(5)  a subdivision of this state, other than a county or 
municipality, acting in partnership with the county or municipality 
in which the structure is located; or
		(6)  a subdivision of this state, other than a county or 
municipality, acting with the approval of the commissioner, if the 
structure is a shore protection structure and is located in an area 
on the west side of a natural inlet to the Gulf of Mexico bounded on 
the east by the bridge abutment for a public bridge over the natural 
inlet and extending not more than 4,500 feet west along the 
shoreline.
	(a-1)  In granting approval of a shore protection structure 
under Subsection (a)(6), the commissioner may specify requirements 
for the design and location of the structure.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.