By Janek                                              H.B. No. 2549
         76R4046 WP-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the state's artificial reef plan.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 89.002, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
 1-5     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
 1-6           (c)  For the transfer of title for a standing oil and gas
 1-7     platform to the state for use as an artificial reef, the department
 1-8     may determine and collect as a fee a fair percentage of the cost an
 1-9     owner of an oil and gas platform would normally be required to pay
1-10     for the removal or destruction of the platform.
1-11           SECTION 2.  Section 89.025, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-12     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-13           (c)  Whenever possible, the department shall leave standing
1-14     in its present location an oil and gas platform that it holds title
1-15     to and that may serve as a potential artificial reef.
1-16           SECTION 3.  Section 89.061, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
1-17     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-18           (c)  A person who has transferred title of a standing oil and
1-19     gas platform to the state for use as an artificial reef is not
1-20     liable for damages  arising from the use of the platform as an
1-21     artificial reef if the applicable requirements of the National
1-22     Fishing Enhancement Act and applicable regulations of the United
1-23     States Department of the Interior are met.
1-24           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-1     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-2     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-3     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-4     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
 2-5     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
 2-6     passage, and it is so enacted.