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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and activities of the Texas Produced Water |
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Consortium. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 109, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter E to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER E. TEXAS PRODUCED WATER CONSORTIUM |
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Sec. 109.201. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the board established by Section |
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109.203. |
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(2) "Consortium" means the Texas Produced Water |
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Consortium. |
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(3) "Host university" means Texas Tech University. |
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(4) "Private entity" means an individual, |
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corporation, or nonprofit corporation. |
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(5) "Produced water" means naturally occurring water |
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that emerges from the ground during the production of oil or gas. |
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Sec. 109.202. TEXAS PRODUCED WATER CONSORTIUM. The Texas |
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Produced Water Consortium is a consortium consisting of the host |
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university, the board, and private entities. The consortium is |
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created to bring together information resources to study the |
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economics of and technology related to beneficial uses of produced |
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water. |
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Sec. 109.203. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The consortium is |
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governed by a board composed of representatives of the: |
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(1) Railroad Commission of Texas; |
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(2) State Energy Conservation Office; |
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(3) Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; |
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(4) Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office |
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within the office of the governor; and |
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(5) Texas Water Development Board. |
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(b) Each entity described by Subsection (a) shall select a |
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representative to serve on the board. |
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(c) The board shall meet as often as necessary to ensure the |
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consortium meets the requirements of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 109.204. DUTIES. (a) The consortium shall study the |
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economics of beneficial uses of produced water and technology |
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needed for those uses. After October 1, 2022, the research and |
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investigation goals of the consortium shall be directed by the |
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sponsors of the consortium. |
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(a-1) This subsection expires October 1, 2022. Not later |
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than September 1, 2022, the consortium shall produce a report that |
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includes: |
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(1) suggested changes to law to better enable |
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beneficial uses of produced water; |
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(2) an economically feasible pilot project for state |
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participation in a produced water facility; and |
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(3) an economic model for using produced water in an |
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economic and efficient way. |
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(b) The host university shall: |
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(1) provide staff and other resources necessary for |
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the consortium to meet the requirements of this subchapter; and |
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(2) solicit participation from: |
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(A) the oil and gas industry; |
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(B) companies that own or manage the |
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infrastructure to store produced water and transport that water to |
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other locations for reuse; and |
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(C) water users, including: |
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(i) agricultural users; |
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(ii) political subdivisions; |
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(iii) universities; and |
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(iv) water utilities. |
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(c) The host university may coordinate with other members of |
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the state university system and state agencies to provide resources |
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necessary for the consortium to meet the requirements of this |
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subchapter. |
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Sec. 109.205. FUNDING. (a) The board and the host |
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university shall collaborate to create a fee structure for private |
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sponsors that establishes fees for various sponsorship levels for |
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private entities that may contribute money to the consortium for |
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research and investigation. |
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(b) Money paid by private entities as sponsorship fees may |
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be used only for research and investigation conducted by the |
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consortium. |
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(c) Except for state money appropriated to the host |
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university for use in meeting the requirements of Section |
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109.204(a-1), and resources provided by the host university, other |
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state university system entities, or state agencies, the consortium |
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may not receive state money. |
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(d) The consortium may accept gifts and grants of money, |
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equipment, or other resources necessary to accomplish the duties of |
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this subchapter. |
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Sec. 109.206. ACCESS TO DATA. (a) In exchange for |
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sponsorship of the consortium, a private entity may receive access |
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to data produced as a result of investigation by the consortium in |
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an amount proportionate to the entity's level of sponsorship. |
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(b) A private entity's access to the consortium's |
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investigation data must be governed by a sponsorship contract |
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between the host university and the entity that describes the data |
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to be released to the private entity. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2021, each state |
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agency described by Section 109.203(a), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, shall select a representative for the board of the Texas |
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Produced Water Consortium, as required by Section 109.203(b), |
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Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than September 1, 2022, the Texas Produced |
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Water Consortium shall deliver the report required by Section |
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109.204(a-1), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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(c) Not later than September 1, 2023, the Texas Produced |
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Water Consortium shall create the pilot project required by Section |
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109.204(a-1)(2), Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |