1-1  By:  Barrientos                                        S.B. No. 271
    1-2        (In the Senate - Filed February 5, 1993; February 8, 1993,
    1-3  read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
    1-4  March 1, 1993, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 10,
    1-5  Nays 0; March 1, 1993, sent to printer.)
    1-6                            COMMITTEE VOTE
    1-7                          Yea     Nay      PNV      Absent 
    1-8        Sims               x                               
    1-9        Truan              x                               
   1-10        Armbrister         x                               
   1-11        Barrientos         x                               
   1-12        Bivins             x                               
   1-13        Brown              x                               
   1-14        Carriker           x                               
   1-15        Lucio              x                               
   1-16        Montford           x                               
   1-17        Ratliff                                       x    
   1-18        Shelley            x                               
   1-19                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
   1-20                                AN ACT
   1-21  relating to the authority of the Railroad Commission of Texas to
   1-22  implement conservation and distribution plans for alternative
   1-23  fuels.
   1-24        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-25        SECTION 1.  Section 113.241, Natural Resources Code, is
   1-26  amended to read as follows:
   1-27        Sec. 113.241.  RULES REGARDING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.  The
   1-28  commission may adopt all necessary rules relating to the purposes
   1-29  of this subchapter and activities <conducting research and
   1-30  educating the public> regarding the use of LPG and other
   1-31  environmentally beneficial alternative fuels that are or have the
   1-32  potential to be effective in improving the quality of air in this
   1-33  state.
   1-34        SECTION 2.  Subsection (c), Section 113.243, Natural
   1-35  Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:
   1-36        (c)  The fund may be used only by the commission to pay for
   1-37  activities relating to the specific fuel from which the fee was
   1-38  derived, including direct and indirect costs relating to:
   1-39              (1)  researching all possible uses of LPG and other
   1-40  alternative fuels to enhance air quality;
   1-41              (2)  researching, developing, and implementing
   1-42  marketing, advertising, and informational programs relating to
   1-43  alternative fuels to make alternative fuels more understandable and
   1-44  readily available to consumers;
   1-45              (3)  developing and implementing conservation and
   1-46  distribution plans to minimize the frequency and severity of
   1-47  disruptions in the supply of alternative fuels;
   1-48              (4)  developing a public information plan that will
   1-49  provide advisory services relating to alternative fuels to
   1-50  consumers;
   1-51              (5)  developing voluntary participation plans to
   1-52  promote the use of alternative fuels by federal, state, and local
   1-53  agencies;
   1-54              (6)  other functions the commission determines are
   1-55  necessary to add to a program established by the commission for the
   1-56  purpose of promoting the use of LPG or other environmentally
   1-57  beneficial alternative fuels; and
   1-58              (7)  the administrative costs incurred by the
   1-59  commission under this subchapter.
   1-60        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-61  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-62  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-63  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-64  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   1-65                               * * * * *
   1-66                                                         Austin,
   1-67  Texas
   1-68                                                         March 1, 1993
    2-1  Hon. Bob Bullock
    2-2  President of the Senate
    2-3  Sir:
    2-4  We, your Committee on Natural Resources to which was referred S.B.
    2-5  No. 271, have had the same under consideration, and I am instructed
    2-6  to report it back to the Senate with the recommendation that it do
    2-7  pass and be printed.
    2-8                                                         Sims,
    2-9  Chairman
   2-10                               * * * * *
   2-11                               WITNESSES
   2-12                                                  FOR   AGAINST  ON
   2-13  ___________________________________________________________________
   2-14  Name:  John Danks                                x
   2-15  Representing:  Tx Propane Gas Assoc.
   2-16  City:  Austin
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   2-18  Name:  Dan Kelly                                               x
   2-19  Representing:  Texas RRC
   2-20  City:  Austin
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