BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                           H.B. 2018

                                                                                                                               By: Brown, Betty

                                                                                                                  Environmental Regulation

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Under current law a person may apply to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a municipal setting designation if: (1) the property is within a municipality that has a population of at least 20,000; and (2) a there is a sufficient public drinking water supply system for the area within one-half mile of the property for which the designation is sought.  This population requirement excludes small municipalities from being able to take advantage of this program that can help clean up abandoned industrial sites. 

 

House Bill 2018 removes the population requirement.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

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

 

ANALYSIS

 

HB 2018 amends the Health and Safety Code to remove the population requirement for the municipality in whose corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction the property lies for which a person may submit an request for a municipal setting designation.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.