75R10947 SMH-D
By Merritt H.B. No. 2691
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2691:
By Hawley C.S.H.B. No. 2691
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to a requirement that the Railroad Commission of Texas
1-3 conduct a study of the East Texas Oil Field.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Chapter 85, Natural Resources Code, is amended by
1-6 adding Subchapter L to read as follows:
1-7 SUBCHAPTER L. STUDY OF EAST TEXAS OIL FIELD
1-8 Sec. 85.401. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "advisory
1-9 committee" means the East Texas Oil Field Advisory Committee.
1-10 Sec. 85.402. STUDY OF FIELD. The commission shall conduct a
1-11 study of the East Texas Oil Field for the purpose of making
1-12 recommendations regarding measures that should be taken to maximize
1-13 the ultimate recovery of oil and gas from the field.
1-14 Sec. 85.403. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The advisory
1-15 committee is composed of:
1-16 (1) a member of the commission, appointed by the
1-17 commission;
1-18 (2) a member of the board of a school district,
1-19 appointed by the commission;
1-20 (3) a representative of the oil industry, appointed by
1-21 the commission;
1-22 (4) a member of the senate, appointed by the
1-23 lieutenant governor; and
1-24 (5) a member of the house of representatives,
2-1 appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
2-2 (b) A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of
2-3 the person who appointed the member.
2-4 (c) The member of the advisory committee who is the member
2-5 of the commission serves as the presiding officer of the advisory
2-6 committee.
2-7 (d) Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to
2-8 compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and
2-9 necessary expenses incurred in performing their official duties as
2-10 advisory committee members.
2-11 (e) Necessary costs for the operation of the advisory
2-12 committee shall be paid from money appropriated to the commission.
2-13 (f) The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the
2-14 presiding officer.
2-15 (g) The advisory committee shall keep a public record of its
2-16 decisions at the office of the commission.
2-17 (h) The advisory committee shall advise the commission with
2-18 regard to the study required by Section 85.402.
2-19 Sec. 85.404. REPORT. Not later than January 1, 2000, the
2-20 commission shall prepare a report containing recommendations
2-21 regarding measures that should be taken to maximize the ultimate
2-22 recovery of oil and gas from the East Texas Oil Field and submit
2-23 the report to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the
2-24 speaker of the house of representatives.
2-25 Sec. 85.405. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires and the
2-26 advisory committee is abolished September 1, 2008.
2-27 SECTION 2. As soon as practicable on or after the effective
3-1 date of this Act:
3-2 (1) the Railroad Commission of Texas shall appoint:
3-3 (A) the member of the East Texas Oil Field
3-4 Advisory Committee who is a member of the commission;
3-5 (B) the member of the advisory committee who is
3-6 a member of the board of a school district; and
3-7 (C) the member of the advisory committee who is
3-8 a representative of the oil industry;
3-9 (2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint the member
3-10 of the advisory committee who is a member of the senate; and
3-11 (3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall
3-12 appoint the member of the advisory committee who is a member of the
3-13 house of representatives.
3-14 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.
3-15 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.