BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 248

By: Walle

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, an automotive wrecking and salvage yard must be located at least 300 feet from an existing church, school, or residence. Interested parties contend that the presence of an automotive wrecking and salvage yard lowers local property values, diminishes quality of life, and presents environmental dangers to residents in close proximity to the yard, since its presence may result in the flow of harmful chemicals into the surrounding neighborhood and even the saturation of lead into the soil. 

H.B. 248 seeks to address these concerns by increasing the distance required between any automotive wrecking and salvage yards in certain counties 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. 248 amends the Transportation Code, in provisions that apply only to an automotive wrecking and salvage yard that is in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more, is not located within a municipality in that county, and is established on or after September 1, 1983, 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. The bill, in those same provisions, authorizes the establishment of a yard within 600 feet, rather than 300 feet, of a residence if the same person owns the residence and the yard.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.