LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
 
FISCAL NOTE, 81ST LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
 
March 24, 2009

TO:
Honorable Byron Cook, Chair, House Committee on Environmental Regulation
 
FROM:
John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
 
IN RE:
HB857 by Laubenberg (Relating to the penalty for certain outdoor burning violations.), As Introduced

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill proposes to reduce the current criminal penalties for violations of the outdoor burning rules to a Class C misdemeanor with a fine up to $500 except where the violation is a repeat offense or involves the burning of a tire or insulation on copper wire. Repeat offenders would be charged with a Class B misdemeanor with a $2,000 fine and/or 180 days confinement for repeat offenders, burning tires or insulation on copper wire would be a Class A misdemeanor with a $4,000 fine and or one year confinement. Under current law, violators pay a $1,000 to $50,000 fine and or confinement not to exceed 180 days for an individual violating outdoor burning rules and a $1,000 to $100,000 fine for a person other than an individual violating the rules. 

The bill's passage is not expected to have a significant fiscal impact to the state.


Local Government Impact

No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.


Source Agencies:
582 Commission on Environmental Quality
LBB Staff:
JOB, WK, TL