BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 684

By: Sheets

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The authority of a commissioners court of a county to adopt a fire code and rules necessary to administer and enforce the code is currently limited to a county with a population of over 250,000 or a county adjacent to such a county. Interested parties note growing interest in such authority being granted to the commissioners court of any county in order to ensure that schools, day-care facilities, hospitals, and businesses in unincorporated areas meet fire safety standards and are accessible to first responders in emergency situations. H.B. 684 seeks to provide this authority.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 684 amends the Local Government Code to remove statutory language restricting the authority of a county commissioners court to adopt a fire code and related rules to the commissioners court of a county with a population of over 250,000 or a county adjacent to such a county.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.