87R5310 JAM-F
 
  By: Walle H.B. No. 3973
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the composition and use of money in the oil and gas
  regulation and cleanup fund.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 403.0956, Government Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 403.0956.  REALLOCATION OF INTEREST ACCRUED ON CERTAIN
  DEDICATED REVENUE. Notwithstanding any other law, all interest or
  other earnings that accrue on all revenue held in an account in the
  general revenue fund any part of which Section 403.095 makes
  available for certification under Section 403.121 are available for
  any general governmental purpose, and the comptroller shall deposit
  the interest and earnings to the credit of the general revenue
  fund.  This section does not apply to:
               (1)  interest or earnings on revenue deposited in
  accordance with Section 51.008, Education Code;
               (2)  an account that accrues interest or other earnings
  on deposits of state or federal money the diversion of which is
  specifically excluded by federal law;
               (3)  the lifetime license endowment account;
               (4)  the game, fish, and water safety account;
               (5)  the coastal protection account;
               (6)  the Alamo complex account; [or]
               (7)  the artificial reef account; or
               (8)  the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund.
         SECTION 2.  Section 81.01010(d), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  The fees charged and collected under this section shall
  be accounted for by the secretary of the commission and paid into
  the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund [treasury as provided by
  Chapter 603, Government Code].
         SECTION 3.  Section 81.0531(e), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and
  [oil-field] cleanup fund.
         SECTION 4.  Section 81.056(g), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (g)  The commission may use money in the oil and gas
  regulation and [oil-field] cleanup fund to implement this
  section.  The amount of money in the fund the commission may use for
  that purpose may not exceed the amount of money in the fund that is
  derived from fees collected under Section 91.142 from common
  carriers or owners or operators of pipelines as determined annually
  by the commission.
         SECTION 5.  Section 81.058, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 6.  Section 81.067, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.067.  OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP FUND. (a)
  The oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund is created as a separate
  [an] account in the general revenue fund of the state treasury.
         (b) [(c)]  The fund consists of:
               (1)  proceeds from bonds and other financial security
  required by this chapter and benefits under well-specific plugging
  insurance policies described by Section 91.104(c) that are paid to
  the state as contingent beneficiary of the policies, subject to the
  refund provisions of Section 91.1091, if applicable;
               (2)  private contributions, including contributions
  made under Section 89.084;
               (3)  expenses collected under Section 89.083;
               (4)  costs recovered and civil and administrative
  penalties collected for commission purposes under Chapters 81, 85,
  86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 111, and 211;
               (5) [(4)]  fees imposed under Section 85.2021;
               [(5)  costs recovered under Section 91.457 or 91.459;]
               (6)  proceeds collected under Sections 89.085 and
  91.115;
               (7)  interest income earned on the investment of money
  [funds] deposited in the fund;
               (8)  oil and gas waste hauler permit application fees
  collected under Section 29.015, Water Code;
               (9)  [costs recovered under Section 91.113(f);
               [(10)]  hazardous oil and gas waste generation fees
  collected under Section 91.605;
               (10) [(11)]  oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on oil
  collected under Section 81.116;
               (11) [(12)]  oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on gas
  collected under Section 81.117;
               (12) [(13)]  fees for a reissued certificate collected
  under Section 91.707;
               (13) [(14)]  fees collected under Section 91.1013;
               (14) [(15)]  fees collected under Section 89.088;
               (15) [(16)]  fees collected under Section 91.142;
               (16) [(17)]  fees collected under Section 91.654;
               (17)  [(18)  costs recovered under Sections 91.656 and
  91.657;
               [(19)]  fees collected under Section 81.0521;
               (18) [(20)]  fees collected under Sections 89.024 and
  89.026;
               (19) [(21)]  legislative appropriations;
               (20) [(22)]  any surcharges collected under Section
  81.070;
               (21) [(23)]  fees collected under Section 91.0115;
               (22) [(24)]  fees collected under Subchapter E,
  Chapter 121, Utilities Code;
               (23) [(25)]  fees collected under Sections [Section]
  27.0321 and 27.045, Water Code;
               (24) [(26)]  fees collected under Section 81.071;
  [and]
               (25) [(27)]  money collected under Section 81.021;
               (26)  penalties collected under Sections 27.101,
  27.1011, and 27.105, Water Code;
               (27)  proceeds from bonds and other financial security
  mechanisms required under Section 27.073, Water Code;
               (28)  civil and administrative penalties collected
  under Chapter 29, Water Code; and
               (29)  civil and administrative penalties collected
  under Chapter 121, Utilities Code.
         (c)  The oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund is an
  interest-bearing fund. Interest earned on money in the fund shall
  be deposited to the credit of the fund.
         (d)  Money in the fund may not be used to pay employee
  benefits or benefit-related costs. Notwithstanding any other law,
  the fund is exempt from any applicable employee benefits
  proportionality requirement.
         SECTION 7.  Section 81.068, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.068.  PURPOSES OF OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP
  FUND.  Money in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund may be
  used by the commission or its employees or agents for any purpose
  related to the regulation of oil and gas development, including:
               (1)  oil and gas monitoring and inspections;
               (2)  [,] oil and gas remediation, and oil and gas well
  plugging;
               (3)  [,] the study and evaluation of electronic access
  to geologic data and surface casing depths necessary to protect
  usable groundwater in this state;
               (4)  [,] the administration of pipeline safety and
  regulatory programs;
               (5)  [,] public information and services related to
  those activities;
               (6)  regulation of geologic storage facilities and
  associated anthropogenic carbon dioxide injection wells, including
  inspection, monitoring, investigation, recording, plugging,
  remediation, and enforcement, and the administration of those
  activities; [,] and
               (7)  administrative costs [and state benefits] for
  personnel involved in those activities.
         SECTION 8.  Section 81.116(e), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  Proceeds from the fee, including [excluding] any
  penalties collected in connection with the fee, shall be deposited
  to the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund as provided by
  Section 81.067.
         SECTION 9.  Section 81.117(e), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (e)  Proceeds from the fee, including [excluding] any
  penalties collected in connection with the fee, shall be deposited
  to the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund as provided by
  Section 81.067.
         SECTION 10.  Section 85.381, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 11.  Section 85.385, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 85.385.  PERSONS AIDING OR ABETTING VIOLATION. (a) Any
  person who aids or abets any other person in violating Section
  85.045 or 85.046 of this code, Title 102, Revised Civil Statutes of
  Texas, 1925, as amended, including provisions of this code formerly
  included in that title, or any rule or order adopted by the
  commission under those laws is subject to the same penalties as
  provided in Section 85.381 of this code.
         (b)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 12.  Section 85.3855, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 13.  Section 86.222, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 14.  Section 87.241, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 15.  Section 89.022, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (e-1) to read as follows:
         (e-1)  Costs associated with a hearing recovered under
  Subsection (e) shall be deposited to the credit of the oil and gas
  regulation and cleanup fund.
         SECTION 16.  Section 89.047(g), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (g)  A fee collected under Subsection (f) shall be deposited
  to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup [general
  revenue] fund and may be appropriated only to the commission to be
  used to enforce the laws and rules concerning oil and gas
  conservation and waste and pollution prevention.
         SECTION 17.  Section 89.121(b), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  Civil penalties collected for violations of this
  chapter or of rules relating to plugging that are adopted under this
  code shall be deposited in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  [general revenue] fund.
         SECTION 18.  Section 91.143, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 19.  Section 91.260, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 20.  Section 91.261, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows:
         (f)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 21.  Section 91.264(c), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  [general revenue] fund.
         SECTION 22.  Section 91.459, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 23.  Section 91.556, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 91.556.  ENFORCEMENT. (a)  If an operator fails to file
  an electric log as required by this subchapter, the commission may:
               (1)  if the well is completed as a producing well,
  refuse to assign an allowable or a change in allowable for
  production from the well for which the electric log is required
  until the operator files the electric log with the commission; or
               (2)  impose an administrative penalty on the operator
  in the manner provided by Sections 81.0531-81.0534 for each well
  for which the operator failed to file an electric log.
         (b)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 24.  Section 111.261, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 111.261.  PENALTY RECOVERABLE BY STATE. (a) A common
  carrier under this chapter is subject to a penalty of not less than
  $100 nor more than $1,000 for each offense, recoverable in the name
  of the state, if the common carrier:
               (1)  violates Section 111.013 through 111.024,
  111.134, 111.135, 111.138, 111.139, 111.141, or 111.142 of this
  code or a valid order of the commission; or
               (2)  fails to perform a duty imposed by Section 111.013
  through 111.024, 111.134, 111.135, 111.138, 111.139, 111.141, or
  111.142 of this code.
         (b)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 25.  Section 111.263, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty recovered by the state under this section
  shall be deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and
  cleanup fund.
         SECTION 26.  The heading to Section 121.003, Natural
  Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.003.  ADMINISTRATIVE FEES AND PENALTIES
  [ANTHROPOGENIC CARBON DIOXIDE STORAGE TRUST FUND].
         SECTION 27.  Section 121.003(c), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Fees collected by the commission under Subchapter C-1,
  Chapter 27, Water Code, and penalties imposed for violations of
  that subchapter or rules adopted under that subchapter shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  [anthropogenic carbon dioxide storage trust] fund.
         SECTION 28.  Section 211.033(q), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (q)  A penalty collected under this section shall be remitted
  to the comptroller for the deposit to the credit of the oil and gas
  regulation and [oil-field] cleanup fund.
         SECTION 29.  Subchapter E, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 121.2105 to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.2105.  DEPOSIT OF PENALTY. A civil or
  administrative penalty collected under this subchapter shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 30.  Subchapter G, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 121.3095 to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.3095.  DEPOSIT OF PENALTY. A civil or
  administrative penalty collected under this subchapter shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 31.  Section 27.045(b), Water Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (b)  Fees collected by the railroad commission under this
  section shall be deposited to the credit of the oil and gas
  regulation and cleanup [anthropogenic carbon dioxide storage
  trust] fund established under Section 81.067 [121.003], Natural
  Resources Code.
         SECTION 32.  Section 27.073, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  Proceeds from bonds and other financial security
  mechanisms required under this section shall be deposited to the
  credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund.
         SECTION 33.  Section 27.101, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 34.  Section 27.1011, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 35.  Section 27.105, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A fine collected under this section shall be deposited
  to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund.
         SECTION 36.  Section 29.047, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 37.  Section 29.051, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty recovered under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         SECTION 38.  Sections 121.003(a), (b), and (d), Natural
  Resources Code, are repealed.
         SECTION 39.  (a) On the effective date of this Act:
               (1)  the anthropogenic carbon dioxide storage trust
  fund is abolished;
               (2)  any money remaining in the anthropogenic carbon
  dioxide storage trust fund is transferred to the oil and gas
  regulation and cleanup fund;
               (3)  any claim against the anthropogenic carbon dioxide
  storage trust fund is transferred to the oil and gas regulation and
  cleanup fund; and
               (4)  any amount required to be deposited to the credit
  of the anthropogenic carbon dioxide storage trust fund shall be
  deposited to the credit of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund.
         (b)  Any money transferred from the anthropogenic carbon
  dioxide storage trust fund to the oil and gas regulation and cleanup
  fund that was deposited in the anthropogenic carbon dioxide storage
  trust fund as a gift, grant, or other form of assistance, and is
  encumbered by the specific terms of the gift, grant, or other form
  of assistance may be spent only in accordance with the terms of the
  gift, grant, or other form of assistance.
         SECTION 40.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.