By Craddick                                          H.C.R. No. 237
       74R14318 BNL-F
                              HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
    1-1        WHEREAS, Texas faces both challenges and opportunities in the
    1-2  pursuit of state energy and natural resource policies to provide
    1-3  for the future prosperity of its citizens; and
    1-4        WHEREAS, Oil and gas production currently provides less than
    1-5  seven percent of state revenue, when as recently as 1980 the
    1-6  contribution of the petroleum industry was far more sizable,
    1-7  reaching 28 percent; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, Declining revenues over the same period have meant
    1-9  a 12 percent drop in the industry's share of the energy market as
   1-10  unstable prices, government regulation, technological change, and
   1-11  globalization have combined to render damaging effects; now,
   1-12  therefore, be it
   1-13        RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas
   1-14  hereby direct the Railroad Commission of Texas and comptroller of
   1-15  public accounts to conduct a study to determine the overall impact
   1-16  of the present statutory and regulatory framework for natural
   1-17  resources, including tax-related and other incentives, on the
   1-18  state, its energy industry, and the market for oil, gas, and other
   1-19  minerals; and, be it further
   1-20        RESOLVED, That the commission and comptroller, using existing
   1-21  staff and budgetary resources, commence the study on the effective
   1-22  date of this resolution; and, be it further
   1-23        RESOLVED, That on conclusion of the study, the commission and
   1-24  comptroller make recommendations to appropriate legislative and
    2-1  regulatory agencies toward maximizing the value, economic
    2-2  contribution, and long-range availability and use of Texas energy
    2-3  and mineral resources; and, be it further
    2-4        RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official
    2-5  copy of this resolution to members of the Railroad Commission of
    2-6  Texas and to the comptroller of public accounts.