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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 81. TEXAS ENERGY RESOURCES [RAILROAD] COMMISSION [OF
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TEXAS] |
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SECTION 2. Section 81.001, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Energy Resources |
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[Railroad] Commission [of Texas]. |
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(2) "Commissioner" means any member of the Texas |
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Energy Resources [Railroad] Commission [of Texas]. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.003 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.003. TEXAS ENERGY RESOURCES COMMISSION. (a) The |
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Railroad Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Energy Resources |
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Commission. |
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(b) A reference in law to: |
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(1) the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas |
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Energy Resources Commission; and |
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(2) a railroad commissioner or a member of the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas means a member of the Texas Energy |
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Resources Commission. |
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SECTION 4. Section 81.01001, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.01001. SUNSET PROVISION. (a) The Texas Energy |
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Resources [Railroad] Commission [of Texas] is subject to Chapter |
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325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in |
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existence as provided by that chapter, the commission is abolished |
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September 1, 2017. |
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(a-1) The review of the Texas Energy Resources [Railroad] |
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Commission [of Texas] by the Sunset Advisory Commission in |
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preparation for the work of the 85th Legislature in Regular Session |
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is not limited to the appropriateness of recommendations made by |
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the Sunset Advisory Commission to the 83rd Legislature. In the |
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Sunset Advisory Commission's report to the 85th Legislature, the |
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Sunset Advisory Commission may include any recommendations it |
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considers appropriate. The review must include an examination of |
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alternative organizational structures for the Texas Energy |
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Resources [Railroad] Commission [of Texas] and alternative methods |
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for performing the commission's responsibilities that would enable |
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the efficient and effective accomplishment of the commission's |
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functions. The examination must include an assessment of existing |
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state agencies that would be able to perform the commission's |
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functions. The review must also include an examination of methods |
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to increase the public's role in decisions of the Texas Energy |
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Resources [Railroad] Commission [of Texas] that relate to the |
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effect of the growth of resource extraction. The Sunset Advisory |
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Commission may contract for assistance in performing the review, |
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including assistance in evaluating, auditing, and forensic |
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auditing, as the Sunset Advisory Commission determines necessary. |
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This subsection expires September 1, 2017. |
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(b) The Texas Energy Resources [Railroad] Commission [of
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Texas] shall pay the costs incurred by the Sunset Advisory |
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Commission in performing a review of the commission under this |
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section. The Sunset Advisory Commission shall determine the costs, |
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and the commission shall pay the amount of those costs promptly on |
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receipt of a statement from the Sunset Advisory Commission |
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detailing the costs. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.010015 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.010015. ELECTION AND TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS; |
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VACANCIES. (a) The commission is composed of three commissioners |
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elected at the general election for state and county officers. |
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(b) Commissioners serve staggered terms of six years, with |
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the term of one commissioner expiring December 31 of each |
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even-numbered year. |
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(c) The governor shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy on |
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the commission until the next general election. |
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SECTION 6. Section 81.01005, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.01005. NAME AND SEAL. (a) The commissioners are |
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known collectively as the "Texas Energy Resources [Railroad] |
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Commission [of Texas]." |
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(b) The seal of the commission contains a star of five |
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points with the words "Texas Energy Resources [Railroad] Commission |
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[of Texas]" engraved on it. |
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SECTION 7. The heading to Section 81.0521, Natural |
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Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.0521. FEE FOR APPLICATION FOR EXCEPTION TO |
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[RAILROAD] COMMISSION RULE. |
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SECTION 8. Section 52.092(c), Election Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) Statewide offices of the state government shall be |
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listed in the following order: |
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(1) governor; |
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(2) lieutenant governor; |
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(3) attorney general; |
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(4) comptroller of public accounts; |
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(5) commissioner of the General Land Office; |
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(6) commissioner of agriculture; |
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(7) energy resources [railroad] commissioner; |
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(8) chief justice, supreme court; |
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(9) justice, supreme court; |
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(10) presiding judge, court of criminal appeals; |
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(11) judge, court of criminal appeals. |
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SECTION 9. On the effective date of this Act, the name of |
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the Railroad Commission of Texas is changed to the Texas Energy |
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Resources Commission. The change of the agency's name does not |
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affect: |
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(1) the agency's powers, duties, rights, or |
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obligations; |
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(2) the agency's personnel, equipment, data, |
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documents, facilities, contracts, items, other property, |
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appropriations, rules, or decisions; |
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(3) a proceeding of or involving the agency under the |
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name of the Railroad Commission of Texas; or |
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(4) the terms of the chairman or other members of the |
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governing body of the agency. |
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SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |