SRC-LBB S.B. 980 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 980
78R6522 JD-DBy: Wentworth
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/19/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) and the Public Utility
Commission of Texas (PUC) can not create a prevention or response plan for
security threats without making that plan public. Electric power and
natural gas facilities may be targets of terrorists or other criminal
activity.  The prevention of or response to such activities may be
compromised if the planning or implementation of such measures is not kept
confidential.  As proposed, S.B. 980 allows RRC and PUC to conduct a
closed meeting to deliberate a security threat or disaster. 

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 Chapter 551D, Government Code, by adding Section
551.093, as follows: 

Sec.  551.093.  DELIBERATIONS OF PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF TEXAS OR
RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS RELATING TO SECURITY THREAT OR DISASTER.  (a)
Defines "disaster." 

(b)  Provides that this chapter does not require the Public Utility
Commission of Texas or the Railroad Commission of Texas to conduct an open
meeting to deliberate the details, or specific occasions for
implementation, of a plan for responding to a security threat or disaster. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2003.