81R14053 CBH-D

By: King of Parker H.B. No. 3761

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a grant program to assist counties in repairing county roads damaged by certain natural gas activities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by adding Subchapter O to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER O. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REPAIR OF COUNTY ROADS DAMAGED BY

CERTAIN NATURAL GAS ACTIVITIES

Sec. 403.351. GRANT PROGRAM FOR REPAIR OF COUNTY ROADS DAMAGED BY CERTAIN NATURAL GAS ACTIVITIES. (a) The comptroller by rule shall establish a program under which the comptroller may award to a county a grant to be used to pay the cost of repairing county roads damaged by natural gas activities, including pad site preparation, rig mobilization, drilling operations, and rig removal, that are related to the Barnett Shale in this state and the Haynesville Shale in Louisiana.

(b) A grant awarded under this section may be paid from any source available for that purpose, including:

(1) gifts;

(2) grants; and

(3) money appropriated to the comptroller for the purposes of this subchapter, including money deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund under Chapter 201 or 202, Tax Code.

Sec. 403.352. GRANT REQUIREMENTS. The rules adopted by the comptroller under Section 403.351 must provide that:

(1) a county may receive a grant only if the county can provide documentation that the county's roads were significantly damaged by the natural gas activities described by Section 403.351; and

(2) a county that receives a grant may use the grant only to repair the significant damage caused by the natural gas activities.

Sec. 403.353. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the comptroller shall submit a report to the legislature summarizing the activities of the comptroller under this subchapter.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.