HBA-KDB C.S.S.B. 687 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 687 By: Brown, J. E. "Buster" Environmental Regulation 4/19/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE It is a general principle of criminal law that an offense committed with intent and knowledge should be treated more seriously than an offense that is not intentional. Under current law, the confinement period for an intentional discharge of a waste or pollutant is the same as that for an unintentional discharge of a waste or pollutant. C.S.S.B. 687 enhances the confinement period penalty for the intentional or knowing discharge, including discharge from a point source, of a waste or pollutant. 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.S.B. 687 amends the Water Code to increase from one year to five years the confinement period penalty for the offense of intentionally or knowingly discharging, including discharging from a point source, a waste or pollutant into or adjacent to water in the state. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.S.B. 687 conforms the original to Texas Legislative Council style and format.