HBA-MPM H.B. 1927 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1927
By: Geren
Public Health
3/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

New federal and state laws enacted in the 1980s focused on protecting
schoolchildren and workers from asbestos in public buildings.  In 1989, the
Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of asbestos in almost all
products manufactured in the United States.  However, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit later overturned the prohibition,
stating that although no new products could be developed using asbestos,
those already in commerce could still be manufactured.  Therefore, certain
asbestos products are still being used today.  Current state law requires
asbestos abatement from public buildings.  However, there is no law
prohibiting the installation or reinstallation of materials that contain
asbestos in public buildings.  House Bill 1927 prohibits a person from
installing building materials that contain more than one percent asbestos
in public buildings and provides penalties for violations. 

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 1927 amends the Health and Safety Code to prohibit a person from
installing or reinstalling building materials or replacement parts
containing more than one percent of asbestos in a public building unless
there is not an alternative material or replacement part.   

The bill authorizes the attorney general or the appropriate district or
county attorney, in the name of the state, to bring an action for an
injunction or a civil penalty against a contractor who is in violation of
or threatens to violate these provisions.  The bill authorizes the district
court to grant any prohibitory or mandatory relief warranted by the facts,
including a temporary restraining order or temporary or permanent
injunction.  The bill provides that a contractor who is in violation of
these provisions is subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 a day
for each violation.  

The bill authorizes the party bringing suit to combine a suit to assess and
recover civil penalties with a suit of injunctive relief, or file a suit to
assess and recover civil penalties independent of a suit for injunctive
relief.  
The bill authorizes the Texas Department of Health to impose an
administrative penalty on a contractor who violates the provisions of this
bill not to exceed $10,000 a day per violation.  The bill sets forth
conditions under which a penalty may be stayed during the time the order is
under judicial review, and authorizes the attorney general to sue to
collect the administrative penalty. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.