Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
John S O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2687 by Lucio III (Relating to county regulation of sound levels; providing a criminal penalty.), As Introduced
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would add Subchapter D to Chapter 240of the Local Government Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county to regulate sound levels in an unincorporated area to promote the public health, safety, and welfare; and would include requirements for regulations and exemptions.
The commissioners court would be authorized to require a permit and charge a permit fee to cover the cost of issuing the permit by a person holding an event that would exceed certain sound levels. The county would be authorized to sue in a district court for an injunction to prohibit a violation or a threatened violation of an adopted regulation. A person would commit a Class C misdemeanor for a violation of an adopted regulation, and would commit a separate offense for each hour of a violation. A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $500.
Local Government Impact
There could be additional revenue to a county for a permit fee that would vary depending on the number of applicable events held and the amount of the permit fee charged to offset the cost of issuing the permit; however, the amount is not anticipated to be significant.
Costs associated with enforcement and prosecution, and revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact.