HBA-LJP S.B. 1352 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1352
By: Armbrister
Land & Resource Management
5/4/2001
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes owners of littoral property to construct, without
obtaining an easement from the School Land Board, a pier that is 100 feet
or less in length and 25 feet or less in width, which requires no filling
or dredging for any purpose other than commercial.  Some littoral property
owners who constructed piers before the enactment of the required
dimensions own piers that do not meet these dimensions and often face
costly penalties for piers that were built according to the required
dimensions at the time of construction.  If the required dimensions of the
piers were expanded, then some of these littoral property owners may not
face these penalties.  Senate Bill 1352 extends, from 100 feet or less to
115 feet or less, the length of a pier that an owner of littoral property
is authorized to construct without obtaining an easement from the School
Land Board. 

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 1352 amends the Natural Resources Code to extend, from 100 feet
or less to 115 or less, the length of a pier that an owner of littoral
property is authorized to construct without obtaining an easement from the
School Land Board. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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