BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 191

By: Walle

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a new automotive wrecking and salvage yard must be located at least 300 feet from an existing church, school, or residence.  The presence of automotive wrecking and salvage yards lowers local property values, diminishes quality of life, and presents environmental dangers to area residents.  Possible dangers include the flow of harmful chemicals into the surrounding neighborhoods and the saturation of lead into the soil.  H.B. 191 increases the required distance between any new automotive wrecking and salvage yard and an existing church, school, or residence to 600 feet.

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

H.B. 191 amends the Transportation Code to increase from 300 feet to 600 feet the distance from an existing church, school, or residence within which the establishment of an automotive wrecking and salvage yard is prohibited if the area is located in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more and is not located within a municipality in that county. The bill makes a conforming change applicable to the exception made for the distance between such wrecking and salvage yard and a residence if the same person owns both the residence and the yard.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.