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78R1216 SMH-D

By:  Merritt                                                      H.B. No. 183



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a requirement that the Bureau of Economic Geology of The 
University of Texas at Austin conduct a study of the East Texas Oil 
Field.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 85, Natural Resources Code, is amended 
by adding Subchapter L to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER L.  STUDY OF EAST TEXAS OIL FIELD
	Sec. 85.401.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:                         
		(1)  "Advisory committee" means the East Texas Oil 
Field Advisory Committee.
		(2)  "Bureau" means the Bureau of Economic Geology of 
The University of Texas at Austin.
	Sec. 85.402.  STUDY OF FIELD.  The bureau shall conduct a 
study of the East Texas Oil Field for the purpose of making 
recommendations regarding measures that should be taken to maximize 
the ultimate recovery of oil and gas from the field.
	Sec. 85.403.  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a)  The advisory 
committee is composed of:
		(1)  a member of the commission, appointed by the 
commission;        
		(2)  a member of the board of a school district, 
appointed by the commission;
		(3)  a representative of the oil industry, appointed by 
the commission;
		(4)  a member of the senate, appointed by the 
lieutenant governor; and
		(5)  a member of the house of representatives, 
appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.
	(b)  A member of the advisory committee serves at the will of 
the person who appointed the member.
	(c)  The member of the advisory committee who is the member 
of the commission serves as the presiding officer of the advisory 
committee.
	(d)  Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to 
compensation but are entitled to reimbursement for actual and 
necessary expenses incurred in performing their official duties as 
advisory committee members.
	(e)  Necessary costs for the operation of the advisory 
committee shall be paid from money appropriated to the commission.
	(f)  The advisory committee shall meet at the call of the 
presiding officer.
	(g)  The advisory committee shall keep a public record of its 
decisions at the office of the commission.
	(h)  The advisory committee shall advise the bureau with 
regard to the study required by Section 85.402.
	Sec. 85.404.  REPORT.  The bureau shall make an interim 
report on or before January 1, 2005, and a final report on or before 
September 1, 2005, to the governor, lieutenant governor, and 
speaker of the house of representatives containing recommendations 
regarding measures that should be taken to maximize the ultimate 
recovery of oil and gas from the East Texas Oil Field.
	Sec. 85.405.  EXPIRATION.  This subchapter expires and the 
advisory committee is abolished September 1, 2005.
	SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable on or after the effective 
date of this Act:
		(1)  the Railroad Commission of Texas shall appoint:                          
			(A)  the member of the East Texas Oil Field 
Advisory Committee who is a member of the commission;
			(B)  the member of the advisory committee who is a 
member of the board of a school district; and
			(C)  the member of the advisory committee who is a 
representative of the oil industry;
		(2)  the lieutenant governor shall appoint the member 
of the advisory committee who is a member of the senate; and
		(3)  the speaker of the house of representatives shall 
appoint the member of the advisory committee who is a member of the 
house of representatives.
	SECTION 3.  (a)  The Bureau of Economic Geology of The 
University of Texas at Austin is required to conduct the study and 
make the reports required by this Act only if the legislature 
appropriates money specifically for that purpose.  If the 
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that 
purpose, the bureau may, but is not required to, implement this Act 
using other appropriations available for the purpose.
	(b)  The persons required to appoint the members of the East 
Texas Oil Field Advisory Committee created under this Act shall 
appoint the members only if the Bureau of Economic Geology of The 
University of Texas at Austin is required or chooses to implement 
this Act as provided by Subsection (a) of this section.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.