BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4067

By: Murr

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the catastrophic flood events that occurred in central Texas in 2018 destroyed homes and roads and scattered debris throughout the affected areas and that great efforts have been made to restore those homes and roads, as well as to remove debris. However, there are concerns regarding the definition of wet debris and the scope of state agency authority in cleaning up such debris. C.S.H.B. 4067 seeks to address these concerns by establishing a wet debris work group to study and submit a report regarding wet debris removal.

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

C.S.H.B. 4067 amends the Government Code to establish the wet debris work group, consisting of at least 13 but not more than 21 local, state, and federal government entities and private entities who are to be appointed by the governor not later than November 1, 2019. The bill sets out provisions relating to the work group's membership and the appointment of a presiding officer. The bill requires the work group to conduct a study to:

· identify:

o wet debris removal categories for bodies of water in the state and the applicable laws for each category;

o current jurisdictions of local, state, federal, and private entities responsible for wet debris removal;

o funding sources applicable to each wet debris removal category; and

o issues that impede wet debris removal; and

· provide recommendations for:

o minimizing impediments to wet debris removal;

o clarifying local, state, federal, and private entities' roles and responsibilities for wet debris removal; and

o educating interested persons on the results of the study.

C.S.H.B. 4067 requires the work group to submit a report with the results of the study to members of the legislature not later than November 1, 2020. The bill's provisions expire and the work group is abolished January 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2019.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4067 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute revises provisions relating to the composition of the work group and the required contents of the study conducted by the work group.

The substitute does not include the specification that the reported submitted to the legislature by the work group be a written report.