Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB1837 by Springer (Relating to the authority of counties to require a person to notify a local governmental entity before starting an outdoor fire; creating a criminal penalty.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Local Government Code to allow the commissioner's court of a county to require a person to provide a single notification of a specified local government entity before starting an outdoor fire. Certain types of fires are exempted from this requirement and no action other than the notice may be required. Establishes an offense under this bill as a Class C misdemeanor.
The bill would take effect immediately if it receives two-thirds vote in each house; otherwise, the bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
A Class C misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Costs associated with enforcement and prosecution could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact. In addition to the fine, punishment can include up to 180 days of deferred disposition.
According to the Texas Association of Counties (TAC), there is a possible cost savings from the bill as a result of a reduction in future fires, leading to a potential positive fiscal impact. These potential savings cannot be estimated and the bill is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal impact on counties.