HBA-CMT, JLV H.B. 1304 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1304
By: Gray
County Affairs
4/8/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act was established for the
purpose of preventing deterioration of Texas beaches.  Gulf Shore counties
need support in their front line efforts to preserve Texas Beaches.  The
regulation of shorelines offers an important means for protecting the
welfare of the beaches and the public.  House Bill 1304 gives the
commissioner's courts of counties bordering the Gulf of Mexico or its
tidewater limits the authorization to prohibit driving on natural or
man-made sand dunes or other structures created for shoreline protection. 

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 1304 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 motor vehicle traffic on any natural or
man-made sand dune or other form of shoreline protection. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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