85R8001 JTS-D
 
  By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 4025
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the relationship between the amount of an
  administrative penalty imposed by the Texas Commission on
  Environmental Quality and the economic benefit of the violation to
  the alleged violator.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 7.053, Water Code, is amended to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 7.053.  FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN DETERMINATION OF
  PENALTY AMOUNT.  (a)  In determining the amount of an administrative
  penalty, the commission shall consider:
               (1)  the nature, circumstances, extent, duration, and
  gravity of the prohibited act, with special emphasis on the
  impairment of existing water rights or the hazard or potential
  hazard created to the health or safety of the public;
               (2)  the impact of the violation on:
                     (A)  air quality in the region;
                     (B)  a receiving stream or underground water
  reservoir;
                     (C)  instream uses, water quality, aquatic and
  wildlife habitat, or beneficial freshwater inflows to bays and
  estuaries; or
                     (D)  affected persons;
               (3)  with respect to the alleged violator:
                     (A)  the history and extent of previous
  violations;
                     (B)  the degree of culpability, including whether
  the violation was attributable to mechanical or electrical failures
  and whether the violation could have been reasonably anticipated
  and avoided;
                     (C)  the demonstrated good faith, including
  actions taken by the alleged violator to rectify the cause of the
  violation and to compensate affected persons;
                     (D)  the economic benefit gained through the
  violation; and
                     (E)  the amount necessary to deter future
  violations; and
               (4)  any other matters that justice may require.
         (b)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsections (c) and (d)
  and notwithstanding Subsection (a), in determining the amount of an
  administrative penalty, the commission shall, to the extent
  practicable, ensure that the amount of the penalty is at least equal
  to the value of any economic benefit gained by the alleged violator
  through the violation.
         (c)  In determining the economic benefit of noncompliance,
  the commission shall provide the alleged violator, on the
  violator's request, an opportunity to:
               (1)  review the information on which the economic
  benefit calculation is based; and
               (2)  demonstrate that the calculation does not reflect
  the actual circumstances.
         (d)  A determination under Subsection (b) may not result in
  the imposition of an administrative penalty in an amount that
  exceeds a limitation on the amount of the penalty provided by
  statute, including the maximum amount provided by Section 7.052.
         (e)  The commission shall allow a governmental entity or
  nonprofit organization to defer payment on any portion of the
  penalty attributable to the consideration of economic benefit on
  the condition that the entity or organization complies with the
  schedule and terms of the enforcement order associated with the
  violation for which the penalty is imposed.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 7.053(b), (c), (d), and (e), Water
  Code, as added by this Act, apply only to a violation that occurs on
  or after the effective date of this Act.  For purposes of this
  section, a violation occurs before the effective date of this Act if
  any element of the violation occurs before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.