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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2763

By: Thompson, Ed

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that more than 20 years have passed since the establishment of a state goal to recycle a certain percentage of the state's total municipal solid waste stream and contend that the state needs to evaluate current recycling activities with respect to the previous goal and the economic value of those activities to the state. C.S.H.B. 2763 seeks to provide for that evaluation through a study regarding the economic impacts of recycling in Texas.

 

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

 

C.S.H.B. 2763 requires the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to conduct a study on the current and potential economic impacts of recycling, including state and local revenue that may be considered lost because recyclable materials are not recycled. The bill prescribes requirements for the study and requires TCEQ, to the extent practicable, to use methodologies developed for other recycling studies performed in Texas in performing the study. The bill requires TCEQ to prepare a written report on the results of the study and include the report in the 2016 summary report titled "Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review." The bill's provisions expire August 31, 2017. 

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

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

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2763 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In the Act:

(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(2)  "Recycling" has the meaning assigned by Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 1.  DEFINITIONS.  In this Act:

(1)  "Commission" means the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

(2)  "Recycling" has the meaning assigned by Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code.

SECTION 2.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE; STUDY. 

(a)  The commission shall convene an advisory committee established under Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code.

 

(b)  The commission through the advisory committee shall conduct a study

 

quantifying the amount of materials currently being recycled,

 

economic impacts including lost state and local revenues from the materials that are not being recycled, and

 

 

 

to identify ways to develop new markets to increase recycling. 

 

The study must:

(1)  assess current recycling efforts

 

(See subsection (b) above.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

and identify ways in which the private and public sectors can improve and increase those efforts;

 

(2)  Identify new markets and business that may be available from existing and increased recycling of materials;

(3)  investigate available and new funding for efforts that are identified;

 

(4)  assess current associated jobs and additional job creation opportunities with existing and increased recycling; and

 

(5)  assess rural infrastructure needs and development opportunities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)  The advisory committee shall prepare a written report on the results of the study, and submit the report to the commission for inclusion into the Municipal Solid Waste Annual Summary Report.

 

SECTION 2.  STUDY OF ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF RECYCLING. 

 

 

 

 

(a)  The commission shall conduct a study

 

 

(See paragraph (1)(A) below.)

 

 

on the current and potential economic impacts of recycling, including state and local revenue that may be considered lost because recyclable materials are not recycled.

 

(See subdivision (2) below.)

 

 

The study must:

(1)  assess current recycling efforts, including by:

(A)  quantifying the amount of materials currently being recycled;

(B)  assessing the cost, value, and quality of materials currently being recycled; and

(C)  estimating the amount of materials that could be recycled but are not currently being recycled;

(2)  identify methods that may be used, by the public sector, the private sector, or both, to increase recycling, including through the development of:

(A)  new markets for recycled materials; and

(B)  new businesses that may result from recycling;

(3)  investigate the current and potential availability of funding for the methods identified under Subdivision (2);

(4)  assess the current types and number of jobs associated with recycling and potential additional opportunities for job creation that may result from increased recycling; and

(5)  assess infrastructure needs and development opportunities associated with recycling in rural areas.

 

(b)  To the extent practicable, the commission shall use methodologies developed for other recycling studies performed in this state in performing the study under this section.

 

(c)  The commission shall prepare a written report on the results of the study and include the report in the 2016 summary report titled "Municipal Solid Waste in Texas: A Year in Review."

 

SECTION 5.  EXPIRATION.  This Act expires August 31, 2017.

 

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 6.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.