AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

The Railroad Commission of Texas (railroad commission) has primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry, pipeline transporters, natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline industry, natural gas utilities, the LP-gas industry, and coal and uranium surface mining operations.  The rail oversight functions of the railroad commission have been transferred to the Texas Department of Transportation.

 

As proposed, S.B. 668 amends current law relating to changing the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading to Chapter 81, Natural Resources Code, to read as follows:

 

CHAPTER 81.  TEXAS OIL AND GAS COMMISSION

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 81.001, Natural Resources Code, to redefine in this chapter "commission" and "commissioner."

 

SECTION 3.   Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources Code, by adding Section 81.003, as follows:

 

Sec. 81.003.  TEXAS OIL AND GAS COMMISSION.  (a)  Provides that the Railroad Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.

 

(b) Provides that a reference in law to the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.

 

SECTION 4.  (a)  Provides that, effective January 1, 2012:

 

(1)  the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas is changed to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission, and all powers, duties, rights, and obligations of the Railroad Commission of Texas are the powers, duties, rights, and obligations of the Texas Oil and Gas Commission;

 

(2)  a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas is a member of the Texas Oil and Gas Commission; and

 

(3)  any appropriation to the Railroad Commission of Texas is an appropriation to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.

 

(b)  Provides that, effective January 1, 2012, a reference in law to the Railroad Commission of Texas is a reference to the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.

 

(c)  Provides that the Texas Oil and Gas Commission is the successor to the Railroad Commission of Texas in all respects.  Provides that all personnel, equipment, data, documents, facilities, contracts, items, other property, rules, decisions, and proceedings of or involving the Railroad Commission of Texas are unaffected by the change in the name of the agency.

 

(d)  Requires the Railroad Commission of Texas to adopt a timetable for phasing in the change of the agency's name so as to minimize the fiscal impact of the name change.  Authorizes the agency, until January 1, 2012, to allow for phasing in the change of the agency's name and in accordance with the timetable established as required by this section, to perform any act authorized by law for the Railroad Commission of Texas as the Railroad Commission of Texas or as the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.  Provides that any act of the Railroad Commission of Texas acting as the Texas Oil and Gas Commission on or after the effective date of this Act and before January 1, 2012, is an act of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

 

SECTION 5.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2011.