85R9993 JRR-D
 
  By: Buckingham S.B. No. 1915
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the prosecution and punishment of certain outdoor
  burning violations.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 382.018, Health and Safety Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  If conduct that violates a rule adopted under this
  section also violates a municipal ordinance, that conduct may be
  prosecuted only under the municipal ordinance, provided that:
               (1)  the violation is not a second or subsequent
  violation of a rule adopted under this section or a municipal
  ordinance; and
               (2)  the violation does not involve the burning of
  heavy oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials,
  or chemical wastes.
         SECTION 2.  Section 7.187(b), Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         (b)  Notwithstanding Section 7.177(a)(5), conviction for an
  offense under Section 382.018, Health and Safety Code, is
  punishable as:
               (1)  a Class C misdemeanor if the violation is a first
  violation and does not involve the burning of heavy oils, asphaltic
  materials, potentially explosive materials, or chemical wastes
  [waste is not a substance described by Subdivision (3)];
               (2)  a Class B misdemeanor if the violation is a second
  or subsequent violation and:
                     (A)  the violation does not involve the burning
  of:
                           (i)  substances described by Subdivision
  (1); or
                           (ii)  insulation on electrical wire or
  cable, treated lumber, plastics, non-wood construction or
  demolition materials, furniture, carpet, or items containing
  natural or synthetic rubber; or
                     (B)  the violation involves the burning of
  substances described by Paragraph (A)(ii) and none of the prior
  violations involved the burning of substances described by
  Subdivision (1) or Paragraph (A)(ii) [under Subdivision (1)]; or
               (3)  a Class A misdemeanor if the violation:
                     (A)  involves the burning of substances described
  by Subdivision (1); or
                     (B)  is a second or subsequent violation and
  involves the burning of substances described by Subdivision
  (2)(A)(ii) and one or more of the prior violations involved the
  burning of substances described by Subdivision (1) or (2)(A)(ii)
  [tires, insulation on electrical wire or cable, treated lumber,
  plastics, non-wood construction or demolition materials, heavy
  oils, asphaltic materials, potentially explosive materials,
  furniture, carpet, chemical wastes, or items containing natural or
  synthetic rubber].
         SECTION 3.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.