BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4820

By: Orr

Environmental Regulation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) may directly award grants under the Galveston Bay Estuary Program only to certain entities. A direct award of grant funds under the program may not be made to a nonprofit organization, although it is common for other state agencies to contract with nonprofit organizations to implement projects that are in the state's interest. C.S.H.B. 4820 seeks to address this issue by making a nonprofit organization eligible for certain TCEQ grants by direct award in order to allow a program such as the Galveston Bay Estuary Program to directly partner with a nonprofit organization which would help shorten project timelines and lower project costs.

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. 4820 amends the Water Code to make a nonprofit organization eligible for a Texas Commission on Environmental Quality grant by direct award for a grant that is awarded for the purpose of funding projects implementing a comprehensive conservation and management plan under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for a national estuary located in Texas.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4820 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the introduced made a nonprofit organization that conducts research and field work for the same purposes as those of the grant eligible for a grant by direct award, the substitute makes any nonprofit organization eligible as such but only for a grant that is awarded for the purpose of funding projects implementing a comprehensive conservation and management plan under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act for a national estuary located in Texas.