HB2622 - 452R - House Bill Summary

House of Representatives

HB 2622

fire departments; electronic reporting

Sponsors: Representatives Landrum Taylor, Giffords,

Burton Cahill, Lopez et al.

DPA S/E	Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology
DPA S/E	Committee on Environment
DPA S/E	Caucus and COW
X	Third Read
	As Passed the House

HB 2622 relates to emergency planning and community right-to-know. It addresses the electronic filing of hazardous material plans/statements by facilities in local jurisdictions.

Current Status

HB 2622 passed the Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee with a strike everything amendment applying to facilities located in cities and towns with a population in excess of 75,000 persons: requires filing pursuant to local requirements; sets a date for mandatory electronic reporting to begin (1/1/05), specifies elements that hazardous materials inventory statements and management plans must contain and requires facilities to file revised forms within 30 days after any significant changes.

HB 2622 passed the Environment Committee with a strike everything amendment that allows for the electronic delivery of plans/statements in cities or towns with a population over 75,000 and allows local fire departments/districts to require electronic reporting of plans/statements.

The Environment Committee’s amendment was adopted in the Committee of the Whole.

History

Under current law a substance is subject to the requirements of this article if it is an extremely hazardous substance as listed and published by the administrator of the United States environmental protection agency. Facilities are subject to emergency planning requirements if a hazardous substance is present at the facility in amounts at or in excess of the threshold planning quantity for that substance. Current law does not require statements/plans to be submitted in electronic formats. At present time, businesses that are required to file a hazardous material statement, or plan, report in paper form to the fire department that has jurisdiction over the area in which they conduct their business.

Amendments

A Strike-Everything Amendment was adopted in the House Environment Committee with the following provisions:

· A facility located in a city or town with a population over 75,000 may deliver hazardous materials inventory statements and hazardous materials management plans electronically.

· A local fire department or fire district may require electronic filing of hazardous materials management plans and hazardous materials inventory statements.

A strike everything amendment was adopted in the House EUT committee with the following provisions:

A facility in a city or town with a population of 75,000 or more must:

· File hazardous materials inventory statements and management plans pursuant to the requirements of the local jurisdiction.

· Include certain elements in the filing: name, address, contact information and specifics on hazardous materials that present an immediate hazard.

· File electronically beginning 1/1/05.

· File revised statements or plans within 30 days of a significant change.