HBA-DMH H.B. 1837 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1837
By: Denny
County Affairs
3/18/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Growth in rural Texas may bring residents into closer proximity with a
sport shooting range.  Currently, there are restrictions on the regulation
of these ranges that prohibit a governmental official from seeking a civil
or criminal penalty against a range or its owner or operator under certain
circumstances.  House Bill 1837 extends that regulatory protection to
include private clubs and associations in the definition of "sport shooting
range." 

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 1837 amends the Local Government Code to include private clubs
and associations in the meaning of "sport shooting range" (range) for the
purposes of regulating a range.  The bill prohibits a governmental official
from seeking a civil or criminal penalty or a person from bringing a
nuisance or similar cause of action against a range for  specified
noise-related violations, including circumstances when no applicable noise
ordinance, order, or rule exists. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.