Amend CSHB 2259 (House Committee Printing) as follows:                       

(1)  In the recital to SECTION 1 of the bill (page 1, line 6), 	strike "and (13)" and substitute "(13), and (14)".
	(2)  In SECTION 1 of the bill, following proposed Section 
89.002(a)(13), Natural Resources Code (page 2, following line 18), 
add the following:
		(14)  "Responsible party" means any person who assumed 
responsibility for operating a well before the current operator, as 
shown by forms filed with the commission.
	(3)  Add the following SECTIONS to the bill, appropriately 
numbered, and renumber the subsequent SECTIONS of the bill 
accordingly:
	SECTION ____.  Subchapter B, Chapter 89, Natural Resources 
Code, is amended by adding Section 89.013 to read as follows:
	Sec. 89.013.  DUTY OF RESPONSIBLE PARTY.  (a)  If the 
operator of a well fails to comply with Section 89.011 and the 
nonoperators fail to comply with Section 89.012, each responsible 
party assumes the duty to plug the well in accordance with Section 
89.011.  If there is more than one responsible party, each 
responsible party is liable for the cost of plugging the well and 
for reimbursing the commission for the cost of enforcing this 
section, provided that each responsible party who bears all or part 
of the costs of plugging the well and enforcement of this section 
has a claim against:
		(1)  the defaulting operator and nonoperators for the 
entire amount spent by the responsible party; and
		(2)  the other responsible parties for their 
proportionate shares of the costs of plugging the well and 
enforcement of this section.
	(b)  In lieu of liability for plugging the well in accordance 
with Subsection (a), a responsible party may elect to submit a 
supplemental bond, letter of credit, or cash deposit to the 
commission in the amount necessary for the entire cost of plugging 
the well and enforcing this section to be covered by current and 
enforceable bonds, letters of credit, or cash deposits.
	(c)  The commission may consider the cost of enforcing this 
section when determining an operator's proportionate share.
	SECTION ____.  Section 89.042, Natural Resources Code, is 
amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  If the nonoperators cannot be found, or if they lack the 
assets or refuse to plug the well under Subsection (b), the 
commission shall order the responsible parties to plug the well 
according to the rules of the commission in effect at the time the 
order is issued.
	SECTION ____.  Section 91.002(a), Natural Resources Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person who wilfully or with criminal negligence 
violates Section 91.019 or 91.101 [of this code] or a rule, order, 
or permit of the commission issued under one of those sections [that 
section] commits an offense.
	SECTION ____.  Subchapter B, Chapter 91, Natural Resources 
Code, is amended by adding Section 91.019 to read as follows:
	Sec. 91.019.  ELECTRIC LINES.  (a)  An operator must ensure 
that electric lines associated with the operator's oil or gas wells 
do not present an unreasonable risk of causing a fire.
	(b)  An operator must ensure that all electric lines 
associated with the operator's oil or gas wells are properly 
connected to equipment that requires a source of power.  Live 
electric lines may not at any time be left in contact with the 
ground while unattached to equipment that requires a source of 
power.
	SECTION ____.  Section 89.011(e), Natural Resources Code, is 
repealed.