HBA-MSH H.B. 1302 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1302
By: Gray
County Affairs
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, counties are authorized to regulate the burning of open
fires in unincorporated areas during drought conditions.  Fires often pose
a safety hazard, especially in areas difficult to reach by emergency
vehicles such as beaches.  House Bill 1302 authorizes the commissioners
court of a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico to prohibit open fires on
a beach. 

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 Bill1302 amends the Natural Resources Code to authorize the
commissioners court of a county that borders the Gulf of Mexico to prohibit
by order open fires on a beach in an 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.