1-1 By: Shapiro S.B. No. 963 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 5, 1997; March 10, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Education; April 18, 1997, 1-4 reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 1; April 18, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 963 By: Luna 1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-8 AN ACT 1-9 relating to the testing of natural gas piping systems in school 1-10 district facilities. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Title 102, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding 1-13 Article 6053-2a to read as follows: 1-14 Art. 6053-2a. TESTING OF NATURAL GAS PIPING SYSTEMS IN 1-15 SCHOOL DISTRICT FACILITIES 1-16 Sec. 1. (a) Before the beginning of each odd-numbered 1-17 school year, each school district shall pressure test the natural 1-18 gas piping system in each school district facility. 1-19 (b) The pressure test shall determine whether the natural 1-20 gas piping downstream of the school district's meter holds at least 1-21 normal operating pressure over a specified period determined by the 1-22 Railroad Commission of Texas. 1-23 (c) During the pressure test, each system supply inlet and 1-24 outlet in the facility must be closed. 1-25 (d) At the request of a school district, the Railroad 1-26 Commission of Texas shall assist the district in developing a 1-27 procedure for conducting the test. 1-28 Sec. 2. (a) Each school district shall provide written 1-29 notice to the natural gas supplier specifying the date and result 1-30 of each pressure test. 1-31 (b) The natural gas supplier shall maintain a copy of the 1-32 notice until at least the first anniversary of the date on which 1-33 the supplier received the notice. 1-34 (c) The supplier shall terminate service to a school 1-35 district facility if: 1-36 (1) the supplier receives notice of a hazardous 1-37 natural gas leakage in the facility piping system; or 1-38 (2) the district fails to perform a test at the 1-39 facility as required by this article. 1-40 SECTION 2. Notwithstanding Article 6053-2a, Revised 1-41 Statutes, as added by this Act, if a school district is not able, 1-42 before the beginning of the 1997-1998 school year, to pressure test 1-43 the natural gas piping system as required by that article, the 1-44 district shall perform the test as soon as practicable thereafter. 1-45 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-46 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-47 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-48 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-49 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-50 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-51 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-52 * * * * *