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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report on the feasibility of authorizing the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas or another state regulatory agency to |
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process certain federal oil and gas drilling permit applications. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "commission" means the |
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Railroad Commission of Texas. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The commission shall conduct a study |
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to evaluate the feasibility of authorizing the commission or |
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another state regulatory agency to establish a program for |
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processing applications for permits to drill or reenter oil or gas |
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wells located on land the leasing of the minerals beneath which is |
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administered by the Bureau of Land Management of the United States |
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Department of the Interior with the consent of that agency or under |
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an agreement between that agency and this state. |
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(b) In conducting the study under Subsection (a) of this |
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section, the commission shall: |
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(1) evaluate and identify sources available to fund |
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the program described by Subsection (a) of this section; and |
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(2) consider the ability and availability of the |
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commission or another state regulatory agency to successfully |
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process the federal permit applications in a timely manner. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2016, the |
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commission shall submit to the legislature a written report |
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containing the findings of the study conducted under this Act and |
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the commission's recommendations for any legislation or other |
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action necessary to implement the program described by Section 2(a) |
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of this Act. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |