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Relating to the authority of coastal counties to adopt certain rules for island parks, beach parks, and public beaches; creating a criminal offense.
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
HB 1628 would give authority to commissioners courts of counties along the Gulf of Mexico to adopt reasonable rules on camping, access, litter, resource protection, or waste disposal on beach parks, island parks, or any part of a public beach. This bill would create a Class C Misdemeanor for violation of these rules.
The Committee Substitute added that rules a commissioners court could adopt would be required to be consistent with the Natural Resource Code.
Texas Action remains neutral HB 1628 because it does not promote or violate any of our principles. Counties do have a legitimate interest in ensuring that public beaches and parks are well cared for and that an enforcement mechanism exists to curb abuses which diminish enjoyment of those areas for other members of the public.
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