SRC-SEW C.S.S.B. 947 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   C.S.S.B. 947
77R10315 SMH-DBy: Brown, J.  E.  "Buster"
Natural Resources
3/22/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the oil-field cleanup fund is funded by statutorily mandated
fees and is unable to take advantage of loan programs offered at other
state agencies designed to protect Texas waters.  C.S.S.B. 947 enables the
Railroad Commission of Texas to seek and repay such loans for the purpose
of plugging abandoned oil wells. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 91.111(c), Natural Resources Code, to provide
that the oil-field cleanup fund (fund) consists of, among other monies, the
proceeds of loans made to or other indebtedness incurred by the Railroad
Commission of Texas (commission). 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 91.112(a), Natural Resources Code, to authorize
money in the fund to be used by the Railroad Commission of Texas
(commission) or its employees or agents for certain purposes, including
repaying a loan made to or other indebtedness incurred by the commission,
the proceeds of which have been deposited to the credit of the fund. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.  Amends As Filed S.B. 947, Section 91.111(c), Natural Resources
Code, to replace the text, "the proceeds of loans or other indebtedness,"
with "the proceeds of loans made to or other indebtedness incurred by the
commission." 

SECTION 2.  Amends As Filed S.B. 947, Section 91.112(a), Natural Resources
Code, to replace the text "repayment of a loan or other indebtedness, the
proceeds of which have been deposited to the fund" with "repaying a loan
made to or other indebtedness incurred by the commission, the proceeds of
which have been deposited to the credit of the fund."  

SECTION 3.  No changes.