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AN ACT
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relating to a study on abandoned oil and gas wells in this state and |
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the use of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) A joint interim committee is created to |
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study abandoned oil and gas wells in this state and the use of the |
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oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund. |
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(b) The committee shall be composed of: |
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(1) five members appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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and |
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(2) five members appointed by the speaker of the house |
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of representatives. |
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(c) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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(d) The committee has all other powers and duties provided |
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to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and |
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house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government |
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Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on |
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administration. |
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(e) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of |
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this Act, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall appoint the members of the interim committee |
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created under this section. |
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(f) The committee shall: |
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(1) study matters related to abandoned oil and gas |
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wells in this state, including the costs associated with plugging |
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abandoned wells and bonding requirements imposed on owners or |
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operators of oil and gas wells; |
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(2) identify potential solutions to reduce the need |
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for general revenue spending to plug abandoned wells; |
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(3) conduct a review of the oil and gas regulation and |
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cleanup fund, including: |
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(A) revenue sources of the fund; |
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(B) projected revenue for the fund through fiscal |
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year 2025 based on the fund's existing fee and fine structure; and |
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(C) an assessment of the rules and statutory |
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limits that determine the amount of the fees and fines that |
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contribute to the fund; and |
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(4) evaluate and identify other sources of potential |
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revenue, including federal funds and other existing taxes and fees |
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paid to the benefit of the state which could be utilized to meet the |
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goals of the committee. |
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(g) The Railroad Commission of Texas shall provide |
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information to the committee necessary to conduct the study under |
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Subsection (f) of this section, including information related to: |
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(1) budget and performance measures of the commission |
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and fees and fines collected by the commission; and |
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(2) any regulatory or statutory changes needed to |
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assure adequate operating revenue for the commission, including |
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revenue used to plug abandoned oil and gas wells. |
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(h) Not later than December 1, 2022, the joint interim |
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committee shall report the committee's findings and |
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recommendations to the legislature. |
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(i) The committee is abolished and this section expires |
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January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3973 was passed by the House on April |
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29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 108, Nays 37, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3973 on May 30, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3973 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays |
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1. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |