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.