Highlights 77th Texas Legislature - Senate

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NATURAL RESOURCES/General
77 th Texas Legislature
Authorizes the Texas Department of Economic Development and the Texas Natural Resource
Conservation Commission to encourage cleanup by a development corporation by allowing sales taxes to
fund a project.
Requires state agencies to give preference to goods meeting state specifications that were produced on a
former brownfield that has received a health and safety certification.
Deducts employment occurring on a former brownfield from the calculation of the unemployment rate for
the purpose of designating an area an enterprise zone created after September 1, 2001.
Deletes the requirement that the property value must be reduced because of the contamination to get a tax
abatement on a brownfield, for applications made after September 1, 2001.
State Soil and Water Conservation Board (Sunset) - H.B. 2310
by Representative Chisum, et al.
Senate Sponsor: Senator Zaffirini
The State Soil and Water Conservation Board (state board) works with agricultural landowners to protect
the state's soil and water resources through voluntary and nonregulatory programs. It defines the state's
management plan for abating nonpoint source pollution. It also provides technical assistance and financial
incentives to farmers who establish water quality management plans, for example. The board is subject to
the Texas Sunset Act and will be abolished on September 1, 2001, unless continued by the legislature.
The Sunset Advisory Commission recommended continuation of the agency until September 1, 2013, along
with several statutory modifications regarding nonpoint source pollution abatement, outreach to the
agricultural community, and local soil and water conservation district elections.
Incorporates standard Sunset Advisory Commission language regarding conflict of interest, training, board
requirements, and complaints.
Nonpoint Source Pollution
Requires the state board, as the lead agency for abating agricultural and silvicultural nonpoint source
pollution, to do the following:
• set priorities among voluntary efforts to reduce nonpoint source pollution;
• assist landowners to prevent regulatory enforcement actions related to nonpoint source pollution;
and
• provide the agricultural community with information on the state board’s and the Texas Natural
Resource Conservation Commission’s (TNRCC) jurisdiction with regard to nonpoint source
pollution.
Clarifies that a permit is not required as a prerequisite for the land application of animal waste for beneficial
use at agronomic rates unless the landowner possesses a facility permitted by TNRCC, and that this
provision does not affect TNRCC’s authority in this area.
Senate Research Center 222