By Merritt                                            H.B. No. 2436
         77R13994 E                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to a requirement that the Bureau of Economic Geology of
 1-3     The University of Texas at Austin conduct a study of the East Texas
 1-4     Oil Field.
 1-5           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-6           SECTION 1.  Chapter 85, Natural Resources Code, is amended by
 1-7     adding Subchapter L to read as follows:
 1-8                SUBCHAPTER L.  STUDY OF EAST TEXAS OIL FIELD
 1-9           Sec. 85.401.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
1-10                 (1)  "Advisory committee" means the East Texas Oil
1-11     Field Advisory Committee.
1-12                 (2)  "Bureau" means the Bureau of Economic Geology of
1-13     The University of Texas at Austin.
1-14           Sec. 85.402.  STUDY OF FIELD.  The bureau shall conduct a
1-15     study of the East Texas Oil Field for the purpose of making
1-16     recommendations regarding measures that should be taken to maximize
1-17     the ultimate recovery of oil and gas from the field.
1-18           Sec. 85.403.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  The advisory
1-19     committee is composed of:
1-20                 (1)  a member of the commission, appointed by the
1-21     commission;
1-22                 (2)  a member of the board of a school district,
1-23     appointed by the commission;
1-24                 (3)  a representative of the oil industry, appointed by
 2-1     the commission;
 2-2                 (4)  a member of the senate, appointed by the
 2-3     lieutenant governor; and
 2-4                 (5)  a member of the house of representatives,
 2-5     appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
 2-6           (b)  A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of
 2-7     the person who appointed the member.
 2-8           (c)  The member of the advisory committee who is the member
 2-9     of the commission serves as the presiding officer of the advisory
2-10     committee.
2-11           (d)  Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to
2-12     compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and
2-13     necessary expenses incurred in performing their official duties as
2-14     advisory committee members.
2-15           (e)  Necessary costs for the operation of the advisory
2-16     committee shall be paid from money appropriated to the commission. 
2-17           (f)  The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the
2-18     presiding officer.
2-19           (g)  The advisory committee shall keep a public record of its
2-20     decisions at the office of the commission.
2-21           (h)  The advisory committee shall advise the bureau with
2-22     regard to the study required by Section 85.402.
2-23           Sec. 85.404.  REPORT.  The bureau shall make an interim
2-24     report on or before January 1, 2003, and a final report on or
2-25     before September 1, 2003, to the governor, lieutenant governor, and
2-26     speaker of the house of representatives containing recommendations
2-27     regarding measures that should be taken to maximize the ultimate
 3-1     recovery of oil and gas from the East Texas Oil Field.
 3-2           Sec. 85.405.  EXPIRATION.  This subchapter expires and the
 3-3     advisory committee is abolished September 1, 2003.
 3-4           SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable on or after the effective
 3-5     date of this Act:
 3-6                 (1)  the Railroad Commission of Texas shall appoint:
 3-7                       (A)  the member of the East Texas Oil Field
 3-8     Advisory Committee who is a member of the commission;
 3-9                       (B)  the member of the advisory committee who is
3-10     a member of the board of a school district; and
3-11                       (C)  the member of the advisory committee who is
3-12     a representative of the oil industry;
3-13                 (2)  the lieutenant governor shall appoint the member
3-14     of the advisory committee who is a member of the senate; and
3-15                 (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives shall
3-16     appoint the member of the advisory committee who is a member of the
3-17     house of representatives.
3-18           SECTION 3.  As regards the study of the East Texas Oil Field
3-19     to be conducted by the Bureau of Economic Geology of The University
3-20     of Texas at Austin, in the event that the funding provided in
3-21     Article 11 of HB 1 by Junell (77R) fails adoption then the
3-22     provisions of Chapter 85, Natural Resources Code, Subchapter L,
3-23     shall become null and void.
3-24           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.