By: Davis S.B. No. 942
 
 
 
   
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation and funding of the Railroad Commission of
  Texas operating account; providing a penalty.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 81.021 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.021.  RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS OPERATING
  ACCOUNT. (a)  The Railroad Commission of Texas operating account
  is an account in the general revenue fund.
         (b)  Money in the account may be appropriated only to the
  commission for the operation of the commission.
         SECTION 2.  Section 81.058, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
         (g)  An administrative penalty imposed under this section
  shall be deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021.
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter K, Chapter 85, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 85.390 to read as follows:
         Sec. 85.390.  DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN PENALTIES. A penalty
  collected under Section 85.385 or 85.3855 shall be deposited to the
  credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas operating account
  established under Section 81.021.
         SECTION 4.  Section 111.261, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 111.261.  PENALTY RECOVERABLE BY STATE. (a)  A common
  carrier under this chapter is subject to a penalty of not less than
  $100 nor more than $25,000 [$1,000] for each offense, recoverable
  in the name of the state, if the common carrier:
               (1)  violates Section 111.013 through 111.024,
  111.134, 111.135, 111.138, 111.139, 111.141, or 111.142 of this
  code or a valid order of the commission; or
               (2)  fails to perform a duty imposed by Section 111.013
  through 111.024, 111.134, 111.135, 111.138, 111.139, 111.141, or
  111.142 of this code.
         (b)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021.
         SECTION 5.  Section 111.263, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows:
         (a-1)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), a penalty
  recovered under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the
  Railroad Commission of Texas operating account established under
  Section 81.021.
         SECTION 6.  Section 116.143, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
         (d)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021.
         SECTION 7.  Section 117.051, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 117.051.  CIVIL PENALTY.  (a)  A person who violates
  this chapter or a rule adopted by the commission under this chapter
  is subject to a civil penalty of not less than $50 nor more than
  $25,000 for each act of violation and for each day of violation,
  provided that the maximum civil penalty that may be assessed for any
  related series of violations may not exceed $500,000.
         (b)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021.
         SECTION 8.  Section 134.178, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 134.178.  RECOVERY OF ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY.  (a)  The
  attorney general at the request of the commission may bring a civil
  action to recover an administrative penalty owed under this
  chapter.
         (b)  An administrative penalty collected under this chapter
  shall be deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021.
         SECTION 9.  Section 141.016, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 141.016.  RECOVERY OF PENALTY. Civil penalties owed
  under Sections 141.013-141.015 [of this code] may be recovered in a
  civil action brought by the attorney general at the request of the
  commission and shall be deposited on collection to the credit of the
  Railroad Commission of Texas operating account established under
  Section 81.021.
         SECTION 10.  Section 105.027, Utilities Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 105.027.  DISPOSITION OF FINES AND PENALTIES. A fine or
  penalty collected under this subtitle, other than a fine or penalty
  collected in a criminal proceeding, shall be deposited to the
  credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas operating account
  established under Section 81.021, Natural Resources Code [paid to
  the railroad commission].
         SECTION 11.  Subchapter E, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 121.212 to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.212.  DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN PENALTIES. An
  administrative or civil penalty collected under this subchapter
  shall be deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021, Natural
  Resources Code.
         SECTION 12.  Subchapter G, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 121.311 to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.311.  DISPOSITION OF CERTAIN PENALTIES. An
  administrative or civil penalty collected under this subchapter
  shall be deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021, Natural
  Resources Code.
         SECTION 13.  Section 27.101, Water Code, is amended by
  adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
         (c)  A penalty collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas
  operating account established under Section 81.021, Natural
  Resources Code.
         SECTION 14.  Section 27.1014, Water Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
         Sec. 27.1014.  RECOVERY OF PENALTY. Civil penalties owed
  under Sections 27.1011-27.1013 [of this code] may be recovered in a
  civil action brought by the attorney general at the request of the
  railroad commission and shall be deposited on collection to the
  credit of the Railroad Commission of Texas operating account
  established under Section 81.021, Natural Resources Code.
         SECTION 15.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.