HBA-NRS S.B. 1162 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1162 By: Truan Transportation 4/23/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, counties and municipalities do not regulate vehicular traffic on sand dunes. Coastal sand dunes are critical for the protection of inland property and the maintenance of existing shorelines. Loss of sand dunes results in shoreline erosion, encroachment of the public beach easement onto private property, and conflicts over public and private rights. Senate Bill 1162 makes operating a vehicle on a sand dune a traffic offense except if the vehicle is on a roadway designated by a subdivision of the state. 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 Senate Bill 1162 amends the Transportation Code to provide that a person commits a Class C misdemeanor if the person operates a vehicle on a sand dune seaward of the dune protection line except on a roadway designated by a subdivision of the state. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.