S.B. 985 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 985 By: Wentworth Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The governor has emergency management powers to protect the state from natural or man-made disasters, riots, or hostile military or "paramilitary action." Part of the governor's responsibilities include planning for and responding to energy emergencies. As proposed, S.B. 985 adds temporary statewide or local shortages of natural gas to the definition of emergency energy. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency , or institution. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Government Code to include a temporary statewide, regional, or local shortage of natural gas in the definition of "energy emergency." SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.