BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 1666
By: Averitt
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The Railroad Commission of Texas administers an abandoned mine land reclamation program that uses federal funds to reclaim eligible abandoned mine lands. Currently, the Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act provides that reclaimed property of a person who owned the surface before May 2, 1977, is exempt from a reclamation lien.
S.B. 1666 eliminates the requirement of ownership before May 2, 1977, to be eligible for a lien exemption to harmonize the state statute with current federal law.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 134.150(c), Natural Resources Code, to delete existing text prohibiting a lien from being filed under this section (Lien) against the property of a person who owned the surface before May 2, 1977. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act retroactive to December 20, 2006.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.