By: Henderson S.B. No. 1244 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to the use of alternative fuels; establishing a 1-2 alternative fuels council, developing an alternative fuels program, 1-3 and managing certain appropriated funds. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 113, Natural Resources Code, is amended 1-6 by adding Subchapter J to read as follows: 1-7 SUBCHAPTER J. ALTERNATIVE FUELS COUNCIL 1-8 Section 113.260. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter, "Council" 1-9 means the Alternative Fuels Council. 1-10 SECTION 2. Section 113.261, Natural Resources Code, is added 1-11 to read as follows: 1-12 Section 113.261. CREATION OF AN ALTERNATIVE FUELS COUNCIL. 1-13 There is created a council to be known as the Alternative Fuels 1-14 Council. 1-15 SECTION 3. Section 113.262, Natural Resources Code, is added 1-16 to read as follows: 1-17 COMPOSITION. The council shall be composed of the 1-18 Commissioner of the General Land Office; the Chairperson of the 1-19 Texas Railroad Commission; and the Chairperson of the General 1-20 Services Commission, or any of their designees. 1-21 SECTION 4. Section 113.263, Natural Resources Code, is added 1-22 to read as follows: 1-23 Section 113.263. DEVELOPMENT OF A PROGRAM. The council 2-1 shall institute all steps necessary to develop a continuing 2-2 comprehensive program to support the use of natural gas, including 2-3 compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, methanol, other 2-4 natural gas derivative fuels, and other alternative fuels, and 2-5 shall manage appropriations from oil overcharge funds. 2-6 SECTION 5. Section 113.264, Natural Resources Code, is added 2-7 to read as follows: 2-8 Section 113.264. RULES. In developing a continuing 2-9 comprehensive program to support the use of natural gas, including 2-10 compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas, methanol, other 2-11 natural gas derivative fuels, and other alternative fuels, the 2-12 council is specifically authorized to set policies and adopt rules 2-13 necessary to achieving the purposes of this subchapter and to 2-14 encourage and support the use of natural gas, including compressed 2-15 natural gas, liquefied natural gas, methanol, other natural gas 2-16 derivative fuels, and other alternative fuels that are or have the 2-17 potential to be effective in improving the quality of air in this 2-18 state. 2-19 SECTION 6. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September 2-20 1, 1993. 2-21 SECTION 7. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Act or 2-22 its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the 2-23 invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this 2-24 Act that can be given effect without the invalid provision or 2-25 application, and to this end the provisions of this Act are 3-1 declared to be severable. 3-2 SECTION 8. EMERGENCY. The importance of this legislation 3-3 and the crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-4 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-5 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-6 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.