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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 3085

By: Keough

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that while the state has made progress on the prevention and removal of roadway trash, the problem of trash floating on waterways has not been adequately addressed. H.B. 3085 seeks to help address this problem by providing for a study on floating trash.

 

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. 3085 requires the Geo-Technology Research Institute to conduct a two-year study on the monitoring, prevention, and removal of human-made trash or debris floating on Texas waterways and submit a report of the institute's findings to the 86th Legislature. The bill requires the report to include summaries of statutes governing, entities responsible for, and practices for compliance with laws and policies governing the prevention and removal of floating trash; a baseline database developed using available agency resources that contains information on the extent of floating trash, identifying the sources of and any gaps in the data contained in the database; a list of model programs in Texas and in other states for the prevention and removal of floating trash; an assessment of the technical and economic feasibility of potential new programs for the prevention and removal of floating trash; and recommendations for state and municipal goals for the prevention and removal of floating trash, technical assistance required for achieving the goals, and monitoring and outreach programs for the prevention and removal of floating trash. The bill requires the institute to submit the report to the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives not later than January 1, 2020. The bill expires February 1, 2020.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2017.