Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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NATURAL RESOURCES/General
77 th Texas Legislature
Information Link for Environmental and Natural Resource Agencies - S.B. 1146
by Senator Shapleigh
House Sponsor: Representative Chisum
The 76 th Legislature authorized the Electronic Government Task Force to create the TexasOnline Internet
portal to provide a single point of access to electronic government services in Texas for citizens and
businesses. Currently, the portal has information links to business, education, and health sites, but no
single, coordinated information link to issues related to environmental protection or quality or to the
development, conservation, or preservation of natural resources.
Requires the creation of an information link for state agencies with jurisdiction over environmental and
natural resource matters.
Bat Protection - S.B. 1194
by Senator Wentworth
House Sponsors: Representative Kuempel, et al.
Prohibits hunting, offering or selling, purchasing, or possessing a bat or a part of a bat, dead or alive.
Allows bats that are inside or on a building occupied by people to be removed or hunted.
Allows animal control officers, peace officers, health officials, and persons licensed in pest control to
capture injured or diseased bats, and transport bats for laboratory testing for rabies.
Railroad Commission Monitors NORM Waste - S.B. 1338
by Senator Ogden
House Sponsor: Representative West
The Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) studied the effectiveness of state rules to control oil and
gas and equipment contaminating or contaminated by naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM).
Authorizes the commission to require owners or operators of equipment to determine whether it contains or
is contaminated with NORM waste, and to identify any such equipment.
Clean Up That Brownfield - H.B. 1027
by Representatives Cook and Farrar
Senate Sponsor: Senator Brown
Liability for environmental cleanup of contaminated property, called brownfields, has limited the
development of these sites. This bill removes some barriers and provides incentives.
Adds cleanup to costs of a development corporation project.
Senate Research Center 221