BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2732

By: King, Tracy O.

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The need for a new cemetery in the City of Laredo has risen exponentially as a result of increases in both the city's population and interest from nonresidents in making Laredo their final resting place. However, finding the land for a new cemetery is very difficult, as current law does not allow for a cemetery to be located within five miles of the city limits. H.B. 2732 seeks to address this issue by providing for the authority of an organized religious society or sect to establish or use a cemetery within the city's boundaries.

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. 2732 amends the Health and Safety Code to authorize an organized religious society or sect, not later than September 1, 2024, to file a written application with a municipality's governing body to establish or use a cemetery within the municipality's boundaries. This authorization applies only with respect to a municipality with a population of 200,000 or more located in a county with a population of less than 300,000 that is adjacent to the state's international border with Mexico.

H.B. 2732 does the following:

· requires the municipality by ordinance to prescribe the information to be included on the application; and

· authorizes the governing body by ordinance to authorize the cemetery's establishment or use if the municipality determines and states in the ordinance that the establishment or use does not adversely affect public health, safety, and welfare.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.