HBA-NMO H.B. 2261 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2261
By: Turner, Bob
Energy Resources
3/14/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law requires nursing homes, day care centers, and public schools to
perform annual pressure tests on their respective natural gas distribution
piping systems to ensure integrity.  However, the law does not place the
same requirement on private schools.  H.B.  2261 defines "school district,"
for the purpose of the statute requiring the testing of natural gas piping
systems in school district facilities, to include private schools. 

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 1(e), Article 6053-2a, Title 102, V.T.C.S.
(Testing of Natural Gas Piping Systems in School District Facilities), to
define "school district" as: 

_an entity created in accordance with the laws of this state and accredited
by the Texas Education Agency (TEA) under Subchapter D (Accreditation
Status), Chapter 39 (Public School System Accountability), Education Code; 

_non-public schools, not including home schools, accredited by TEA under
Subchapter C (Authorized Operation of Proprietary Schools), Chapter 132
(Proprietary Schools), Education Code; 

_special education schools identified by TEA under Chapter 29 (Educational
Programs), Education Code.  Makes conforming and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective beginning with the
1999-2000 school year. 

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date:  90 days after adjournment.