HBA-AMW C.S.H.B. 1227 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 1227 By: Hamric Environmental Regulation 4/16/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) 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. C.S.H.B. 1227 requires TNRCC to establish and conduct a pilot project to determine the value and feasibility of offering incentives to regulated entities for installing pollution monitoring devices, including on-site technical assistance, expedited permitting, reduced reporting and recordkeeping 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 C.S.H.B. 1227 requires the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to establish and conduct a pilot project to determine the value and feasibility of offering 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 TNRCC to consider offering, and requires TNRCC to collect data on the value and feasibility of offering incentives including, to the extent consistent with federal requirements, on-site technical assistance, expedited permitting, reduced reporting and recordkeeping requirements, and reduced inspections. The bill requires TNRCC to report the results of the project to the legislature not later than December 1, 2002. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 1227 modifies the original bill by requiring the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC) to establish and conduct a pilot project to determine the value and feasibility of offering to entities, rather than requiring TNRCC to offer to entities, incentives to install pollution monitoring devices and link the devices with TNRCC's data system. The substitute differs from the original bill by authorizing TNRCC to consider offering, and by requiring TNRCC to collect data on the value and feasibility of offering, certain incentives, rather than authorizing certain offered incentives. The substitute adds the provision regarding TNRCC's report to the legislature.