SRC-JEC S.B. 508 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 508
78R813 JJT-DBy: Ellis, Rodney
State Affairs
4/6/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas does a tremendous amount of businesses in the gas, gas
product, and gas services fields.  As proposed, S.B. 508 establishes
efforts in the Utilities Code to enhance workforce diversity in the gas
utility companies and to increase opportunities for small and historically
underutilized businesses to participate in gas-related industry. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Railroad Commission of
Texas in SECTION  2 of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Title 3A, Utilities Code, by adding Chapter 106, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 106.  WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR CERTAIN BUSINESSES

Sec. 106.001.  DEFINITIONS.  Defines "small business" and "historically
underutilized businesses." 

Sec. 106.002.  PLAN TO ENHANCE WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND INCREASE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL AND HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES.  (a)
Requires each gas utility annually to submit to the Railroad Commission of
Texas (railroad commission) a five-year plan to accomplish certain
purposes. 

  (b)  Sets forth requirements for the plan.

Sec. 106.003.  REPORTING WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMALL
AND HISTORICALLY UNDERUTILIZED BUSINESSES.  (a)  Requires each gas utility
annually to submit a report to the railroad commission summarizing the
utility's efforts to enhance the diversity of its workforce and increase
business opportunities for small and historically underutilized
businesses. 

  (b)  Sets forth requirements for the report.

(c)  Authorizes the report to be included as part of any other annual
report the gas utility is required to submit to the railroad commission. 

SECTION 2.  Requires the railroad commission by rule to require each gas
utility to submit to the commission the plan required by Section 106.002,
Utilities Code, as added by this Act, as soon as the commission determines
is practicable but not later than September 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.