By: Smithee H.B. No. 2130 73R6091 MI-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the Texas Rapid Action Council. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: 1-5 (1) "Permit" means a written authorization required by 1-6 law to be issued by a state agency, including a license, permit, 1-7 certificate, approval, or registration. 1-8 (2) "Permitting agency" means the Texas Natural 1-9 Resource Conservation Commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, 1-10 the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Authority, or the Texas 1-11 Radiation Control Agency. 1-12 SECTION 2. TEXAS RAPID ACTION COUNCIL. (a) The Texas Rapid 1-13 Action Council is an agency of the state. 1-14 (b) The council consists of: 1-15 (1) the governor; 1-16 (2) the lieutenant governor; 1-17 (3) the speaker of the house of representatives; 1-18 (4) a committee chairman from both the senate and the 1-19 house of representatives; and 1-20 (5) as an ex officio member, the executive director of 1-21 the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. 1-22 SECTION 3. PURPOSE AND POWERS OF COUNCIL. (a) The purpose 1-23 of the council is to expedite the approval of environmental permits 1-24 for new industries in the state. 2-1 (b) The council, in consultation with a permitting agency, 2-2 may determine which environmental permits required by state law are 2-3 eligible for expedited review under this Act and shall adopt 2-4 procedures for the expedited review and approval or denial of 2-5 environmental permits required by state law, including procedures 2-6 for application, review, notice, hearing, approval or denial, and 2-7 other matters the council considers necessary. 2-8 (c) The council may request additional information regarding 2-9 a permit application within 15 days after receiving the 2-10 application. The council shall approve or deny the permit 2-11 application: 2-12 (1) not later than the 30th day after the date on 2-13 which it receives the application, if no additional information is 2-14 requested; or 2-15 (2) not later than the 30th day after the date on 2-16 which the council receives the additional information it requested. 2-17 (d) The council, by rule, shall impose a special permit fee 2-18 for applications considered under this section. 2-19 (e) The council shall hold a public hearing on any permit 2-20 application considered under this section. 2-21 (f) The council may use the staff of the Texas Natural 2-22 Resource Conservation Commission in carrying out its duties under 2-23 this Act. 2-24 SECTION 4. TRANSITION. Before September 1, 1993, a 2-25 reference in this Act to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation 2-26 Commission is a reference to the Texas Water Commission and the 2-27 Texas Air Control Board. This section expires September 1, 1993. 3-1 SECTION 5. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 3-2 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 3-6 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 3-7 passage, and it is so enacted.