BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2367

By: Kolkhorst

Intergovernmental Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee of the need for Waller County to deter the misuse of public park facilities in Waller County and save taxpayer funds. S.B. 2367 seeks to accomplish this by authorizing the board of park commissioners, subject to the approval of the commissioners court, to adopt reasonable rules concerning the use of any park administered by the board, a violation of which is subject to a civil penalty.

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. 2367 amends the Local Government Code to make applicable to the board of park commissioners of a county with a population of less than 75,000 that is adjacent to three counties with populations of more than 450,000 the provisions of state law authorizing a board of park commissioners to adopt, subject to the approval of the commissioners court, reasonable rules concerning the use of any park administered by the board. The bill, by virtue of this applicability, makes a person who violates such a rule liable to that county for a civil penalty of not more than $100 per violation, authorizes the county to bring suit in a district court or county court to recover the civil penalty, and requires the deposit of such fines in the county's general fund. The bill also prohibits the board of park commissioners of such a county from adopting rules relating to the use of fireworks.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.