BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 915

By: Shaheen

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that restrictions on the periods during which fireworks may be sold limits the ability of certain groups to celebrate religious holidays as they wish. H.B. 915 seeks to provide for the local sale of fireworks for the Diwali holiday.

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. 915 amends the Occupations Code to authorize the commissioners court of a county by order to allow a retail fireworks permit holder to sell fireworks to the public in the period beginning five days before the first day of Diwali and ending at midnight on the last day of Diwali.  

H.B. 915 amends the Local Government Code to require the Texas A&M Forest Service to make its services available to respond to a county request to determine whether drought conditions exist on average in the county during the Diwali holiday fireworks season. The bill sets the deadline by which the county commissioners court must adopt an order prohibiting or restricting the sale or use of restricted fireworks in the unincorporated area of the county based on a drought determination during the Diwali holiday fireworks season.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.