1-1 By: Cain S.B. No. 1911 1-2 (In the Senate - Filed March 25, 1997; April 2, 1997, read 1-3 first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources; 1-4 April 21, 1997, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, 1-5 Nays 0; April 21, 1997, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to inspection of, and public awareness concerning, 1-9 interstate natural gas pipelines within the State of Texas. 1-10 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-11 SECTION 1. Subsection (A), Article 6053-1, Revised Statutes, 1-12 is amended to read as follows: 1-13 (A) For the purpose of providing exclusive state control 1-14 over safety standards and practices applicable to the 1-15 transportation of gas and all gas pipeline facilities within the 1-16 borders of this state to the maximum degree permissible under the 1-17 federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49 U.S.C. Section 1-18 60101 et seq.) or any successor legislation, the Railroad 1-19 Commission of Texas is hereby expressly granted the power to 1-20 describe or adopt by regulation safety standards for all such 1-21 transportation of gas and gas pipeline facilities which are not 1-22 subject to exclusive federal control, to require record maintenance 1-23 and reports, and to inspect records and facilities to determine 1-24 compliance with such safety standards, and, from time to time, to 1-25 make certifications and reports and to take any other requisite 1-26 action in accordance with the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1-27 1968 or any successor legislation. The Railroad Commission of 1-28 Texas also has authority to conduct inspections on interstate 1-29 facilities delegated through an interstate agent agreement with the 1-30 Texas Department of Transportation. 1-31 SECTION 2. Article 6053-1, Revised Statutes, is amended by 1-32 adding Subsection (E) to read as follows: 1-33 (E) The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt rules for 1-34 public education and awareness concerning pipeline facilities and 1-35 for a community liaison for responding to emergencies. 1-36 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-37 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-38 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-39 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-40 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. 1-41 * * * * *