HBA-TBM H.B. 3315 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3315
By: Ramsay
County Affairs
3/25/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the commissioners court of a county is authorized to
prohibit certain outdoor burning activities in areas where drought
conditions exist if it is to the benefit of the public.  The law provides
exceptions from the burn ban, but activities relating to planting
agriculture crops are not currently exempt. House Bill 3315 provides that
such activities are exempt from the burn ban.   

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 3315 amends the Local Government Code to exempt outdoor burning
activities related to planting agriculture crops that are authorized by the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission for the benefit of public
health and safety from the burn ban applied to counties experiencing
drought conditions.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

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