BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 2039 By: Cook (Nixon) Natural Resources 05-19-95 Senate Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Section 89.043, Natural Resources Code, regards the salvaging of abandoned oil field equipment by the Texas Railroad Commission (commission) and requires the commission to send a notice to the last known operator of an abandoned well. Subsection (e) currently requires the commission to file a copy of this notice in the county clerk's office of the county in which the well is located. The clerk is required to record the notice in the real property records of the county. In addition to information about the plugging of the well, the notice also must state the commission's intention to salvage and sell any abandoned oil field equipment pursuant to Section 89.085. PURPOSE As proposed, H.B. 2039 provides that a notice that the Texas Railroad Commission intends to plug a delinquent salt water, oil, or gas well need not be acknowledged by the county with which it was filed and prohibits the commission from being charged a fee by the county for the filing or recording of the notice. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant rulemaking authority to a state officer, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 89.043(e), Natural Resources Code, to provide that a notice that the Texas Railroad Commission (commission) intends to plug a delinquent salt water, oil, or gas well need not be acknowledged by the county with which it was filed. Prohibits the commission from being charged a fee by the county for the filing or recording of the notice. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.