79R228 SMH-D

By:  Merritt                                                      H.B. No. 1512



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 
comprehensive 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 the following persons appointed by the 
bureau:
		(1)  a member of the board of trustees of the Kilgore 
Independent School District;
		(2)  a member of the board of trustees of the White Oak 
Independent School District;
		(3)  a member of the board of trustees of the Pine Tree 
Independent School District;
		(4)  a member of the board of trustees of Kilgore Junior 
College or an employee of Kilgore Junior College; and
		(5)  three representatives of the oil industry.                        
	(b)  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 a report on or 
before January 1, 2007, to the governor, lieutenant governor, and 
speaker of the house of representatives containing comprehensive 
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, 2007.
	SECTION 2.  (a)  The Bureau of Economic Geology of The 
University of Texas at Austin is required to implement 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)  If the operators of oil or gas wells in the East Texas 
Oil Field implement the recommendations contained in the report 
required by Section 85.404, Natural Resources Code, as added by 
this Act and that implementation results in an increase in the 
amount of oil and gas produced from the field, the legislature shall 
provide for recovery of the cost of implementing this Act from the 
owners or operators of the wells in the manner the legislature 
determines to be most appropriate.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.