BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 345

By: Creighton

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that the purpose for which the legislature originally appropriated the funds used to acquire the present William Goodrich Jones State Forest was to demonstrate reforestation. S.B. 345 seeks to protect that original purpose with regard to the forest by making certain requirements for its conservation.

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

S.B. 345 amends the Education Code to require the entire territory of the William Goodrich Jones State Forest to remain natural, scenic, undeveloped, and open in a manner that maintains the tree canopy cover of the forest. The bill restricts the enforcement of any statute, rule, policy, or ordinance with respect to the territory of the forest to a statute, rule, policy, or ordinance that protects and conserves the forest's natural resources, air quality, or water quality.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.