BILL ANALYSIS
By: Chisum
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) is a multi-state government agency, located in Oklahoma, that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting health, safety and the environment. Texas has been a member of the IOGCC since its founding in 1935. This bill would provide a means for funding the relocation of the IOGCC to Texas and the support of the IOGCC and related economic development and research activities.
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
This bill amends the Natural Resources Code by adding a subsection which states that if the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission relocates to the city of Austin, Texas, on or after September 1, 2007, money in the fund may be disbursed to pay for costs related to the relocation and for the support of that commission. This bill further states that the amount of money in the fund that may be disbursed under this subsection in a state fiscal year may not exceed $500,000. This bill states that the subsection added by this bill will expire August 31, 2009.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The caption of the bill has been changed in the substitute. The original caption was "relating to the funding of relocation of Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and support of other entities." The substitute caption is "relating to the use of certain state money for costs related to the relocation to the city of Austin, Texas, of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission and for the support of that commission."
Section 1 of the bill has been changed by the substitute. The original bill was very broad and simply stated that the Natural Resources Code was amended by adding a subsection for relocation and support of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) and of other energy research groups colocated with the IOGCC. The substitute is more detailed and states that if the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission relocates to the city of Austin, Texas, on or after September 1, 2007, money in the fund may be disbursed to pay for costs related to the relocation and for the support of that commission. The substitute also specifies that the amount of money in the fund that may be disbursed may not exceed $500,000 in a state fiscal year, and that the subsection created by the substitute will expire August 31, 2009.