HBA-AMW H.B. 1227 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1227 By: Hamric Environmental Regulation 3/26/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1998, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) improved its air-quality monitoring capabilities with the introduction of the Lockheed Environmental Analysis and Display System (LEADS). With the use of LEADS, TNRCC is capable of providing real-time air quality data from the Texas air monitoring networks. Emerging air-quality monitoring technologies that allow government agencies to collect real-time data from remote locations may help TNRCC to assess pollution events and to identify the causes of such events. However, companies are currently not required to and are not given any incentive to install such technologies. Offering regulated companies incentives to directly link monitoring devices to TNRCC may lead to the identification of air pollution problems and the quick and efficient remedying of these problems. House Bill 1227 requires TNRCC to offer incentives to regulated entities for installing monitoring devices, including on-site technical assistance, expedited permitting, reduced reporting and record keeping requirements, and reduced inspections. 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 1227 amends the Health and Safety Code to require the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to offer to entities regulated under the Texas Clean Air Act incentives to install fence-line and smokestack air pollution monitoring devices and link the devices with TNRCC's data system. The bill authorizes the incentives to include, to the extent consistent with federal requirements, onsite technical assistance, expedited permitting, reduced reporting and record keeping requirements, and reduced inspections. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.