| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the establishment of a theft of petroleum products task |
|
|
force. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. (a) In this Act: |
|
|
(1) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of |
|
|
Texas. |
|
|
(2) "Theft of petroleum product" means conduct |
|
|
constituting an offense under Section 31.19, Penal Code. |
|
|
(b) The commission shall appoint a task force to study and |
|
|
make recommendations related to preventing the theft of petroleum |
|
|
products in this state. |
|
|
(c) The task force must include: |
|
|
(1) at least one representative from the oil and gas |
|
|
industry; |
|
|
(2) at least one representative from an energy trade |
|
|
association; and |
|
|
(3) representatives from local, state, and federal law |
|
|
enforcement agencies. |
|
|
(d) The commission shall designate a member of the task |
|
|
force as the presiding officer. |
|
|
(e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call |
|
|
of the presiding officer. A task force meeting may be conducted |
|
|
virtually through the Internet. |
|
|
(f) The task force shall conduct an ongoing study of the |
|
|
theft of petroleum products in this state. In conducting the study, |
|
|
the task force shall: |
|
|
(1) review laws and regulations addressing the theft |
|
|
of petroleum products in other jurisdictions, including |
|
|
international political and economic organizations; |
|
|
(2) analyze: |
|
|
(A) the impact of the theft of petroleum products |
|
|
on the collection of sales tax; |
|
|
(B) the long-term economic impacts of the theft |
|
|
of petroleum products; and |
|
|
(C) the advantages and disadvantages of taking |
|
|
various actions to reduce the theft of petroleum products; and |
|
|
(3) make recommendations regarding: |
|
|
(A) theft of petroleum product outreach and |
|
|
prevention programs, including coordination among stakeholders, |
|
|
including local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and |
|
|
(B) training for law enforcement officers and |
|
|
prosecutors on effective strategies for combating the theft of |
|
|
petroleum products. |
|
|
(g) In conducting the study under Subsection (f) of this |
|
|
section, the members of the task force may: |
|
|
(1) consult with any organization, governmental |
|
|
entity, or person the task force considers necessary; and |
|
|
(2) collaborate and share information relating to an |
|
|
active criminal investigation with one another regardless of |
|
|
whether the information would otherwise be confidential and not |
|
|
subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
|
|
(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
|
|
the task force shall prepare and submit a report of the study |
|
|
conducted under Subsection (f) of this section to the governor, the |
|
|
lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|
|
the commission, and each standing committee of the legislature with |
|
|
primary jurisdiction over oil and gas matters. |
|
|
(i) The report submitted under Subsection (h) of this |
|
|
section: |
|
|
(1) must include legislative and other |
|
|
recommendations to increase transparency, improve security, |
|
|
enhance consumer protections, prevent the theft of petroleum |
|
|
products, and address the long-term economic impact of the theft of |
|
|
petroleum products; and |
|
|
(2) may be submitted electronically. |
|
|
(j) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
|
|
duration of the task force or to the designation of the task force's |
|
|
presiding officer. |
|
|
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|
|
of this Act, the Railroad Commission of Texas shall appoint the |
|
|
theft of petroleum products task force as required by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 3. This Act expires December 31, 2030. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |