BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1968
By: HOLZHEAUSER
March 20, 1995
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The Texas Energy Coordination Council was created by the
Legislature in 1993.  It is responsible for coordinating energy
research among Texas' major universities and energy industries. 
The council is also required to serve as a policy resource to the
Legislature and state energy policy makers.  Members of the council
include ex-officio (which means by virtue of an office)
representatives from Texas Tech University, Texas A&M University,
the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Houston, and
West Texas A&M University.  These are combined with appointed
representatives of the natural gas industry, oil industry,
alternative fuels industry, renewable energy industry, electric
utility industry, and an energy consumer/environmental
representative.  The council was also supposed to include a
representative of industrial energy consumers.

Due to a drafting mistake in an amendment during the 73rd
Legislative Session, the industrial energy consumer representative
was included as an ex-officio, rather than an appointed, member. 
This prevented the governor from appointing the representative to
the council.


PURPOSE

To make the industrial energy consumer representative of the Texas
Energy Coordination Council an appointed, rather than ex-officio
member.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency, or institution.


SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Amends Section 3.01, Article 4413(47f), V.T.C.S., by
removing the representative for industrial energy consumers from
the list of ex-officio members of the Texas Energy Coordination
Council and adding it to the list of appointed members of the
Council.

Section 2. Emergency Clause.
          Effective Date: upon passage.


SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

HB 1968 was considered by the Energy Resources Committee in a
public Hearing on March 20, 1995. Jon K. Fisher, representing the
Texas Chemical Council testified in favor of the bill. No one
testified against the bill. The bill was reported favorably without
amendment with the recommendation that it do pass and be printed
and be sent to the Committee on Local and Consent Calendars, by a
record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 PNV, and 2 absent.