HBA-CMT, JLV H.B. 1301 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1301
By: Gray
County Affairs
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law authorizes commissioners courts in coastal counties to prohibit
littering in their unincorporated areas.  Strict enforcement of littering
penalties, beach clean-up days, and providing trash bags to the public have
proven unsuccessful in keeping the beaches free of litter and safe for
public use.  Glass containers are a significant part of the litter problem,
and pose safety problems when broken.  House Bill 1301 authorizes the
commissioners court of a county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico or its
tidewater limits to prohibit the use of glass containers on beaches in
unincorporated areas.   

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 1301 amends the Natural Resources Code to authorize the
commissioners court of a county bordering on the Gulf of Mexico or its
tidewater limits to prohibit the use or possession of any glass container
or other glass product on a beach in the unincorporated area of the county. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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