BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2859

By: Harless

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Sources of funding available under the Texas Clean Air Act to participating counties for local initiative air quality projects include fees collected from vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance programs, which may be used for certain types of vehicle-related local initiative projects. While current law caps the amount of this fee revenue that participating counties may use for such projects at $5 million per fiscal year, interested parties note that increased funding is necessary to accommodate additional nonattainment counties that may be participating in the program. H.B. 2859 seeks to increase the amount of fee revenue from vehicle emissions and inspection programs being allocated for these local initiative projects.

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. 2859 amends the Health and Safety Code to increase from $5 million per fiscal year to $10 million per fiscal year the cap on the amount of fees collected from vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance programs that may be used for vehicle-related local initiative projects under the Texas Clean Air Act.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.