81R22881 ACP-D
 
  By: Burnam, Truitt H.B. No. 1533
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1533:
 
  By:  Strama C.S.H.B. No. 1533
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to notice of applications for permits to drill certain gas
  wells.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 86, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 86.044 to read as follows:
         Sec. 86.044.  NOTICE OF CERTAIN GAS WELL PERMIT
  APPLICATIONS. (a)  This section applies only to a gas well proposed
  to be located in a county that:
               (1)  has a population of more than 50,000; and
               (2)  is located wholly or partly above a
  hydrocarbon-producing geological formation in which during the
  preceding year the commission issued more than 1,500 drilling
  permits authorizing wells to be completed.
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), on receipt of the
  first application for a permit to drill a gas well at a drill site,
  the commission must provide notice of the application by first
  class mail and, on request, electronically to:
               (1)  the state senator and representative who represent
  the area in which the well is proposed to be located; and
               (2)  the following, as applicable:
                     (A)  if the well is proposed to be located outside
  the corporate limits or extraterritorial jurisdiction of a
  municipality:
                           (i)  the member of the commissioners court
  who represents the county commissioner precinct in which the well
  is proposed to be located; and
                           (ii)  the county judge of the county in which
  the well is proposed to be located;
                     (B)  if the well is proposed to be located in the
  corporate limits of a municipality, each member of the governing
  body of the municipality who represents the area in which the well
  is proposed to be located; or
                     (C)  if the well is proposed to be located in the
  extraterritorial jurisdiction of a municipality, each member of the
  governing body of the municipality.
         (c)  The commission is not required to provide notice under
  this section to a person described by Subsection (b) if the person
  has waived in writing the right to notice under this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies only to an application for a
  permit to drill a gas well that is filed with the Railroad
  Commission of Texas on or after the effective date of this Act. An
  application for a permit to drill a gas well that is filed with the
  commission before the effective date of this Act is governed by the
  law as it existed immediately before the effective date of this Act,
  and that law is continued in effect for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.