SRC-MKV S.B. 1792 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1792
77R9991 QS-DBy: Ogden
Natural Resources
4/7/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission amended its regulations to
reinstate provisions for well category determinations for certain
categories of high-cost gas under the National Gas Policy Act, Section 107.
The Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) expects approximately 1200
new or reprocessed applications per year due to the new regulations.
Currently, the commission is allowed to collect a $50 application fee to
perform the well determination review work. As proposed, S.B. 1792 allows
the commission to raise the application fee to an amount not to exceed
$150, so that the fee is sufficient to cover the cost of the program. 

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 81.0522(a), Natural Resources Code, to add
language requiring the Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) to set the
application fee in an amount necessary to cover the cost of the
commission's well category determination program but not to exceed $150.
Deletes the specification that the fee be $50. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.