HBA-CCH H.B. 1279 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1279 By: Coleman Public Health 3/1/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The 72nd Legislature enacted legislation relating to the regulation of asbestos removal from public buildings through the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act. This legislation exempts persons performing resilient floor-covering removal consistent with work practices published by the resilient floor covering industry or approved by the commissioner of health from the licensing and registration requirements. House Bill 1279 repeals the exemption, thereby making all persons removing resilient floor coverings comply with the Texas Department of Health's asbestos abatement guidelines. 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 1279 repeals law that exempts persons from licensing and registration requirements of the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act who are performing resilient floor-covering removal consistent with work practices published by the resilient floor covering industry or by other methods determined by the commissioner of health to provide comparable protection from asbestos exposure. The bill provides that a person who is engaged in an activity involving resilient floor-covering material on August 31, 2001 is not required to comply with the licensing and registration requirements of the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act before January 1, 2002. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.