By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 1503

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of a grant program to support the elimination of illegally disposed of scrap tires.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 361, Health and Safety Code, is amended by adding Section 361.0315 to read as follows:

Sec. 361.0315. SCRAP TIRE REMEDIATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section, "scrap tire" has the meaning assigned by Section 361.112.

(b) The commission may develop a scrap tire remediation grant program to award grants from the scrap tire remediation grant account established by this section to counties for the purpose of reducing the number of scrap tires disposed of in inland or coastal water and onto public rights-of-way and other public land.

(c) The commission may award a grant under the scrap tire remediation grant program to a county to be used for:

(1) identifying and prosecuting violators of Section 365.012, as that section relates to the illegal disposal of scrap tires;

(2) providing information to the public to discourage the illegal disposal of scrap tires; and

(3) removing and properly disposing of illegally disposed of scrap tires.

(d) The scrap tire remediation grant account is a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and consists of:

(1) appropriations of money to the account by the legislature;

(2) gifts, grants, including federal grants, and other donations received for the account; and

(3) interest earned on the investment of money in the account.

(e) Money in the scrap tire remediation grant account may be used by the commission only to:

(1) award grants under this section; and

(2) administer the scrap tire remediation grant program under this section.

(f) The commission by rule may adopt rules for the administration of this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.