BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 1346
86R31170 JRR-D	By: Thompson, Ed (Powell)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	5/9/2019
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 1346 seeks to improve participation in the Diesel Emissions Reduction Incentive Program by providing the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality more flexibility in administering the program.

 

In 2001, the 77th Legislature created the Texas Emissions Reduction Plan (TERP) to provide financial incentives to eligible individuals, businesses, and local governments to reduce emissions from vehicles and equipment and help the state achieve federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality standards. There are concerns that one of the TERP programs, the Diesel Emissions Reduction Incentive Program, is too restrictive in the criteria used to select participants, which inhibits Texas from joining efforts to help the state achieve federal EPA air quality standards. H.B. 1346 seeks to address this issue by revising the eligibility requirements for the diesel emissions reduction incentive program. (Original Author's/Sponsor's Statement of Intent)

 

C.S.H.B. 1346 amends current law relating to the eligibility requirements for the diesel emissions reduction incentive program.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 386.104, Health and Safety Code, by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsections (c-1) and (c-2), as follows:

 

(c) Requires not less than 75 percent of vehicle miles traveled or hours of operation projected for the five years immediately following the award of a grant, except as otherwise provided by this subsection, for a proposed project as described by Section 386.102(b) (relating to certain projects authorized to be considered for a grant), other than a project involving a marine vessel or engine, to be projected to take place in a nonattainment area or affected county of this state. Authorizes the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to set the minimum percentage of vehicle miles traveled or hours of operation required to take place in a nonattainment area or affected county at a percentage and for a period that is different from the percentage and period specified by this subsection, provided that TCEQ is prohibited from setting the minimum percentage at a level that is less than 55 percent. Makes a nonsubstantive change.

 

(c-1) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes.

 

(c-2) Creates this subsection from existing text and makes no further changes.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2019.

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