BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 1968
                                          By: Holzheauser (Brown)
                                                Natural Resources
                                                         05-03-95
                              Senate 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 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. It was intended for the
council to also include a representative of industrial energy
consumers.

Due to a drafting mistake in an amendment during the 73rd
Legislature, 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

As proposed, H.B. 1968 provides that the representative of
industrial energy consumers is a governor-appointed member, rather
than an ex officio member, of the Texas Energy Coordination
Council.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 3.01, Article 4413(47f), V.T.C.S., as
follows:

     Sec. 3.01. COMPOSITION. (a) Deletes a representative of
     industrial energy consumers from the list of ex officio
     members composing the Texas Energy Coordination Council
     (council). Makes nonsubstantive changes.
     
     (b) Adds a representative of industrial energy consumers to
       the list of members the governor shall appoint to serve on
       the council.
       
       (c) Makes no change.
       
       SECTION 2.   Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.