HBA-CCH, JLV H.B. 1080 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1080
By: McReynolds
Civil Practices
6/14/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Wildfires are a dangerous and costly threat throughout Texas.  Texas
landowners use prescribed burning as an efficient land management tool to
reduce vegetative fuels that can cause wildfires.  The 76th legislature
established a board to certify burn managers to instruct people to properly
utilize prescribed burning.  Prior to the 77th Legislature, state law
required a certified burn manager to purchase liability insurance of at
least $1 million dollar per occurrence.  House Bill 1080 requires a
certified burn manager to also have a minimum aggregate limit of at least
$2 million dollars for a liability insurance policy.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1080 amends the Natural Resources Code to limit the liability of
an owner, lessee, or occupant of agricultural land for damages arising from
a certified prescribed burn on that land unless the certified burn manager
has liability insurance coverage with a policy period minimum aggregate
limit of at least $2 million.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.