HBA-JLV H.B. 779 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 779
By: Uher
Land & Resource Management
2/21/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The line of vegetation is the line that separates the public beach easement
from private use property.  The line of vegetation does not have a fixed
location and can shift as a result of erosion.  Therefore what was once
private property could become subject to a public beach easement.   House
Bill 779 provides that, in certain areas,  the line of vegetation is along
the seaward side of a stone revetment.  

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 779 amends the Natural Resources Code to provide that in an area
of public beach where a combination stone revetment and concrete sheet pile
wall, with specific characteristics, interrupts the natural line of
vegetation, the line of vegetation is along the seaward side of the wall
for the distance of the wall. The bill provides that a line of vegetation
established is the landward boundary of the public beach and of the public
easement. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.