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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to fees imposed by certain counties on operators of gas |
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wells and oil and gas waste disposal wells. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 240, Local Government |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 240.908 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 240.908. GAS WELL AND OIL AND GAS WASTE DISPOSAL WELL |
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IMPACT FEE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Gas well" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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86.002, Natural Resources Code. |
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(2) "Injection well" and "oil and gas waste" have the |
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meanings assigned by Section 27.002, Water Code. |
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(3) "Oil and gas waste disposal well" means an |
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injection well that is used for the injection of oil and gas waste. |
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(b) This section applies only to a gas well or oil and gas |
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waste disposal well located in: |
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(1) a county that: |
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(A) has a population of 1.4 million or more or is |
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adjacent to such a county; and |
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(B) is located wholly or partly above a |
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hydrocarbon-producing geological formation in which during the |
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preceding year the Railroad Commission of Texas issued more than |
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2,000 drilling permits authorizing gas wells to be completed; or |
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(2) a county: |
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(A) that has a population of more than 25,000; |
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(B) that borders another state; and |
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(C) in which is located a national forest. |
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(c) The commissioners court of a county may impose a fee on |
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each operator of a gas well or oil and gas waste disposal well |
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located in the county. The fee may be assessed in an amount and on a |
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schedule as determined by the commissioners court to adequately |
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provide funds to the county for maintaining county roads that |
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suffer deterioration caused by activities associated with the |
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exploration for or development or production of gas in the county. |
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(d) Funds collected under this section shall be deposited in |
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the county's general fund. The funds may be used only for |
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maintaining county roads that suffer deterioration caused by |
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activities associated with the exploration for or development or |
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production of gas in the county. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |