Officials In Galveston Seek Change In State Law

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — Galveston County officials are seeking a change in state law to help them root out squatters living on beaches on Bolivar Peninsula.

County commissioners will push the state Legislature this session for a change in the Texas Natural Resources Code to allow counties bordering the Gulf of Mexico to ban full-time living on unincorporated beaches, most of which are found on Bolivar Peninsula.

Commissioner Ryan Dennard tells The Galveston County Daily News (http://bit.ly/15KtuJT ) that cities have the power to regulate camping on beaches, but counties responsible for unincorporated areas do not have the regulatory power without a change in state law.

He says "people have set up these makeshift camps and stay for a really, really long time and there are health and safety issues that come up."