HBA-NIK S.B. 627 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 627
By: Truan
State Recreational Resources
4/27/1999
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas owns state park land within a few miles of the Rio Grande
River under the jurisdiction of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
(TPWD).  Federal agencies that are responsible for patrolling the border,
interdiction of contraband, and capture of illegal immigrants have general
powers to pursue suspects across land, regardless of its ownership.  State
parkland is particularly vulnerable to damage from off-road vehicles.  S.B.
627 directs TPWD to coordinate with federal, state, and local agencies to
mitigate environmental damage to TPWD land along the state's border with
Mexico. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 13.303, Parks and Wildlife Code, to require the
Parks and Wildlife Department to implement programs and coordinate with
departments and agencies of the federal government, including the United
States Border Patrol and the Drug Enforcement Administration, and other
departments of state and local government, if necessary, to mitigate
environmental damage to any land under the control and custody of the Parks
and Wildlife Department along this state's border with Mexico. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Amendment # 1

Amends Section 13.303, Parks and Wildlife Code, to require the department
to implement programs and coordinate with departments and agencies of the
federal government, including the United States Border Patrol and the Drug
Enforcement Administration, and other departments of state and local
government, if necessary, to minimize, rather than mitigate, environmental
damage to any land under the control and custody of the Parks and Wildlife
Department along this state's border with Mexico.