BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4181

By: Perez

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that the sending of certain notices under the Texas Clean Air Act by postal mail leads to increased costs and delays. H.B. 4181 seeks to address this issue by providing for the sending of such notices by electronic communication.

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. 4181 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize the notice provided by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to the holder of a preconstruction permit under the Texas Clean Air Act that the permit is scheduled for review to be sent by electronic communication if TCEQ develops a system that reliably replaces registered or certified mail as a means of verifying receipt of the notice. The bill gives TCEQ or its designee the option of sending notice of a proposed final action on a federal operating permit to the applicant and other applicable persons by electronic communication as an alternative to sending the notice by
first-class mail.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.