BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1815 By: Reynolds et al. (Miles) Intergovernmental Relations 5/9/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Fort Bend County currently does not have statutory authority over their parks. The county should be able to enforce regulations, impose fines and discourage vandalism and other dangerous activities taking place in their parks. H.B. 1815 allows Fort Bend County to have the authority to enact and enforce rules and regulations over their parks. This will make the parks safer for public use. H.B. 1815 amends current law relating to the power of counties to enact park use rules. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 320.0455(a), Local Government Code, to provide that this section (Rules in a Populous County; Penalty for Violations) applies to certain counties, including a county with a population of 580,000 or more adjacent to a county with a population of 2.8 million or more. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017. BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1815 By: Reynolds et al. (Miles) Intergovernmental Relations 5/9/2017 Engrossed Senate Research Center H.B. 1815 By: Reynolds et al. (Miles) Intergovernmental Relations 5/9/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Fort Bend County currently does not have statutory authority over their parks. The county should be able to enforce regulations, impose fines and discourage vandalism and other dangerous activities taking place in their parks. H.B. 1815 allows Fort Bend County to have the authority to enact and enforce rules and regulations over their parks. This will make the parks safer for public use. H.B. 1815 amends current law relating to the power of counties to enact park use rules. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 320.0455(a), Local Government Code, to provide that this section (Rules in a Populous County; Penalty for Violations) applies to certain counties, including a county with a population of 580,000 or more adjacent to a county with a population of 2.8 million or more. Makes nonsubstantive changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.