BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                     H.B. 1254

                                                                                                                          By: Bonnen (Averitt)

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                            4/21/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current statute does not provide the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) with the ability to adjust fees paid by permit applicants to encourage the use of TCEQ's electronic permitting system.  The permitting system allows applicants to file a permit application, pay associated fees, and print out a permit authorization in a matter of minutes.  Similarly, TCEQ has the ability to file several high-level required reports electronically.  The use of electronic services improves TCEQ's efficiency and effectiveness.

 

H.B. 1254  authorizes TCEQ to adjust fees to encourage electronic reporting and the use of TCEQ's electronic document receiving system.

 

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 5.128(a), Water Code, to authorize the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to adjust fees as necessary to encourage electronic reporting and the use of the commission's electronic document receiving system, notwithstanding any other law. 

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.