HBA-CMT H.B. 164 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 164 By: Olivo County Affairs 2/19/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the George Observatory is experiencing conflicts regarding the regulation of light pollution. Telescopes used for research attract light and work better in dark areas. Artificial light that points downward, and away from the atmosphere minimizes light pollution which hinders telescopic research. House Bill 164 authorizes a county to regulate outdoor lighting near a major astronomical observatory. 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 164 amends the Local Government Code by modifying the definition of "major astronomical observatory" to be a facility with one or more telescopes that have objective diameters that total 75 inches or more and are permanently mounted in enclosed buildings. The bill also adds the director of the George Observatory to the list of persons who may request the commissioners court of a county any part of which is located within 57 miles of a observatory to adopt orders regulating the installation and use of outdoor lighting in any unincorporated territory of the county. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.