BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 374

By: Smith

Natural Resources

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Toward the close of the last century, Texas and Oklahoma entered into the Red River Boundary Compact to definitively locate the jurisdictional boundary between the two states, a task that was completed as prescribed by the compact. However, a comparison of the location of the resulting Texas-Oklahoma boundary and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' records appears to indicate that the boundary is not located in accordance with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' preconstruction survey. Recent legislation enacted by the 83rd Legislature recreated the Red River Boundary Commission to work with the representatives appointed on behalf of Oklahoma to determine how the current Texas-Oklahoma boundary was located and to redraw the boundary in the Texoma region in accordance with the compact. There have been calls to postpone the expiration of those provisions to ensure that the two states are in agreement with regard to the boundary. H.B. 374 seeks to address this issue by extending the existence of the commission and the deadline for its final report.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 374 amends the Natural Resources Code to extend from December 31, 2021, to December 31, 2023, the expiration date of provisions providing for the Red River Boundary Commission and to extend from July 30, 2021, to July 30, 2023, the deadline by which the commission is required to issue its final report.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2021.