SRC-CTC S.B. 958 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 958
77R2167 JJT-FBy: Brown, J. E. "Buster"
Education
3/22/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, public schools are required to test natural gas pipelines.  As
proposed, S.B. 958 requires private schools to test natural gas systems for
leaks to endure the safety of all schools, staff, and the general public. 

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 the heading of Chapter 121J, Utilities Code, to read as
follows: 

SUBCHAPTER J.  TESTING OF  NATURAL GAS PIPING SYSTEMS IN SCHOOL FACILITIES

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 121J, Utilities Code, by adding Section
121.5005, as follows: 

Sec. 121.5005.  APPLICABILITY.  Provides that this subchapter applies to a
facility of a public elementary or secondary school, including a charter
school, or a private elementary or secondary school, but does not apply to
a home school. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Sections 121.501-121.506, Utilities Code, as follows:

 Sec. 121.501.  Redefines "supplier."

Sec. 121.502.  (a) Requires a person responsible for a school facility,
rather than each school district, to perform biennial pressure tests on the
natural gas piping system in the school facility, rather than each school
district facility.  Provides, rather than requiring the school district,
that the tests must be performed before the beginning of the school year. 

(b) Authorizes a person responsible for more than one school facility,
rather than the school district, to perform the tests on a two-year cycle,
testing approximately one-half of the facilities each year.  Makes a
conforming change. 

  (c) Makes conforming changes.

(d) Includes wording to clarify the type of test that satisfies the
requirements prescribed by this seciton. 

 Sec. 121.503.  Makes conforming changes.

Sec. 121.504.  Requires a person responsible for a school facility, rather
than a school district,  to provide written notice to the school's
supplier, rather than the district's natural gas supplier, specifying the
date and result of each pressure test or other inspection. 

 Sec. 121.505.  Makes conforming changes.

Sec. 121.506.  New heading: REPORT OF LEAKAGE.  Provides that an identified
natural gas leakage in another school facility must be reported to the
person responsible for the school facility. 

SECTION 4.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.