By: Dale H.B. No. 1788

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 81, Natural Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

CHAPTER 81. TEXAS ENERGY [RAILROAD] COMMISSION [OF TEXAS]

SECTION 2. Section 81.001, Natural Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Commission" means the Texas Energy [Railroad] Commission [of Texas].

(2) "Commissioner" means any member of the commission [Railroad Commission of Texas].

SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources Code, is amended by adding Section 81.003 to read as follows:

Sec. 81.003. TEXAS ENERGY COMMISSION. (a) The Railroad Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Energy Commission.

(b) A reference in law to:

(1) the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas Energy Commission; and

(2) a railroad commissioner or a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas means a member of the Texas Energy Commission.

SECTION 4. Section 81.01001, Natural Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.01001. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Energy [Railroad] Commission [of Texas] is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission is abolished September 1, 2013.

SECTION 5. Section 81.01005, Natural Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.01005. NAME AND SEAL. (a) The commissioners are known collectively as the "Texas Energy [Railroad] Commission [of Texas]."

(b) The seal of the commission contains a star of five points with the words "Texas Energy [Railroad] Commission [of Texas]" engraved on it.

SECTION 6. The heading to Section 81.0521, Natural Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 81.0521. FEE FOR APPLICATION FOR EXCEPTION TO [RAILROAD] COMMISSION RULE.

SECTION 7. Section 52.092(c), Election Code, is amended to read as follows:

(c) Statewide offices of the state government shall be listed in the following order:

(1) governor;

(2) lieutenant governor;

(3) attorney general;

(4) comptroller of public accounts;

(5) commissioner of the General Land Office;

(6) commissioner of agriculture;

(7) energy [railroad] commissioner;

(8) chief justice, supreme court;

(9) justice, supreme court;

(10) presiding judge, court of criminal appeals;

(11) judge, court of criminal appeals.

SECTION 8. (a) On the effective date of this Act:

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

(2) a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas is a member of the Texas Energy Commission;

(3) the chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas is the chairman of the Texas Energy Commission; and

(4) any appropriation to the Railroad Commission of Texas is an appropriation to the Texas Energy Commission.

(b) On the effective date of this Act:

(1) a reference in law to the Railroad Commission of Texas is a reference to the Texas Energy Commission; and

(2) a reference in law to a railroad commissioner or a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas is a reference to a member of the Texas Energy Commission.

(c) The Texas Energy Commission is the successor to the Railroad Commission of Texas in all respects. 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.

SECTION 9. This Act takes effect on the date on which the constitutional amendment proposed by the 83rd Legislature, Regular Session, 2013, to rename the Railroad Commission of Texas as the Texas Energy Commission takes effect . If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.