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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to providing that the Railroad Commission of Texas is |
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governed by a single railroad commissioner. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Article 6444, Revised Statutes, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Art. 6444. TERMS DEFINED; REFERENCES IN LAW. (a) The term |
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"Commission" as used in this title means the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas, and the term "commissioner" ["Commissioners"] means the |
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railroad commissioner [members of the Railroad Commission of
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Texas]. |
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(b) In this title, a reference to the commissioners or to |
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the members of the Commission is considered to be a reference to the |
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railroad commissioner. In any state statute, a reference to the |
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railroad commissioners or to the members of the Railroad Commission |
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of Texas is considered to be a reference to the railroad |
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commissioner. |
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SECTION 2. Article 6447, Revised Statutes, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Art. 6447. THE COMMISSIONER [COMMISSION]. (a) |
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Election.--The Railroad Commission of Texas is governed by the |
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railroad commissioner, who shall be [composed of three members, one
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of whom shall be] elected [biennially] at a [each] general election |
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for a term of four [six] years. |
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(b) Qualifications.--The commissioner [members] shall be a |
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resident citizen [citizens] of this State, and a qualified voter |
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[voters] under the Constitution and laws, and not less than |
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twenty-five years of age. The commissioner is [members are] |
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subject to the provisions of Chapter 572, Government Code, that |
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apply to elected officers, including the requirements governing |
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personal financial statements, standards of conduct, and conflicts |
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of interest. |
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(c) Oath, etc.--Before entering upon the duties of [his] |
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office, the [each] commissioner shall take and subscribe to the |
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official oath and shall in addition thereto swear that the |
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commissioner [he] will to the best of the commissioner's [his] |
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ability faithfully and justly execute and enforce the provisions of |
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this title and all laws of this State under the jurisdiction of the |
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Commission [concerning railroads], which oath shall be filed with |
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the Secretary of State. |
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(d) Seal [Organization].--The commissioner [commissioners
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shall elect one of their number chairman. They may make all rules
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necessary for their government and proceedings. They] shall be |
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known [collectively] as the "railroad commissioner" ["Railroad
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Commission of Texas,"] and shall have a seal, a star of five points |
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with the words "Railroad Commission of Texas" engraved thereon. The |
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commissioner [They] shall be furnished necessary furniture, |
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stationery, supplies and all necessary expenses, to be paid for on |
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the order of the Governor. |
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(e) Expenses.--The commissioner [Commissioners] shall |
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receive from the State [their] necessary traveling expenses while |
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traveling on the business of the Commission, which shall include |
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the cost only of transportation while traveling on business for the |
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Commission, upon an itemized statement thereof, sworn to by the |
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commissioner [party who incurred the expense, and approved by the
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Commission]. Employees of the Commission are entitled to |
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reimbursement for expenses incurred in traveling on the business of |
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the Commission as provided by the General Appropriations Act. |
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[Sessions.--The Commission may hold its sessions at any place
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in this State when deemed necessary.] |
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SECTION 3. Section 81.001(2), Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(2) "Commissioner" means [any member of] the railroad |
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commissioner [Railroad Commission of Texas]. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.002 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.002. REFERENCES IN LAW. A reference in law to the |
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chair or presiding officer of the Railroad Commission of Texas or to |
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a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas means the |
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commissioner. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2011, but only |
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if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 81st Legislature, |
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Regular Session, 2009, providing that the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas will be governed by a single elected railroad commissioner |
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instead of by an elected three-member commission, is approved by |
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the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this |
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Act has no effect. |