| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the organization and duties of the Public Utility |
|
|
Commission of Texas. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 12.051(c), Utilities Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(c) Commissioners serve staggered, two-year [six-year] |
|
|
terms. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 12.053(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
(a) To be eligible for appointment, a commissioner must: |
|
|
(1) be a qualified voter; |
|
|
(2) be a citizen of the United States; |
|
|
(3) be a resident of this state; |
|
|
(4) be a competent and experienced administrator; |
|
|
(5) [(4)] be well informed and qualified in the field |
|
|
of public utilities and utility regulation; and |
|
|
(6) [(5)] have at least five years of experience in |
|
|
the administration of business or government or as a practicing |
|
|
attorney or certified public accountant. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 12.203, Utilities Code, is amended to |
|
|
read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 12.203. ANNUAL [BIENNIAL] REPORT. Not later than |
|
|
January 15 of each [odd-numbered] year, the commission shall |
|
|
prepare a written report that includes suggestions regarding |
|
|
modification and improvement of the commission's statutory |
|
|
authority and for the improvement of utility regulation in general |
|
|
that the commission considers appropriate for protecting and |
|
|
furthering the interest of the public. |
|
|
SECTION 4. The governor shall promptly appoint three |
|
|
commissioners to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in |
|
|
accordance with Section 12.051, Utilities Code, as amended by this |
|
|
Act. Notwithstanding Section 12.051(c), Utilities Code, in making |
|
|
the initial appointments under that section, the governor shall |
|
|
designate one commissioner to a term expiring September 1, 2022, |
|
|
and two commissioners to a term expiring September 1, 2023. A |
|
|
person who is serving as a commissioner of the Public Utility |
|
|
Commission of Texas immediately before the effective date of this |
|
|
Act may continue to serve until the person's successor is appointed |
|
|
and qualifies to serve. |
|
|
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |