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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on the availability of natural gas utility |
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service in certain counties. |
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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. SCOPE OF STUDY. The commission shall conduct a |
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study on the availability of natural gas utility service in each |
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county in this state that borders the United Mexican States and has |
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a population of more than 800,000. In conducting the study, the |
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commission shall: |
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(1) identify in each county each census-designated |
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place that has a population of at least 500 and that lacks natural |
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gas utility service; |
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(2) consider the reasons for the lack of availability |
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of natural gas utility service in each census-designated place |
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identified in Subdivision (1) of this section; |
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(3) estimate the cost of expanding availability of |
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natural gas utility service in each census-designated place |
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identified in Subdivision (1) of this section; and |
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(4) study methods for making natural gas utility |
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service available throughout each county. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. (a) The commission |
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shall issue a written report to the legislature, the lieutenant |
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governor, the speaker of the house, and the presiding officers of |
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the standing committees of the senate and house of representatives |
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with jurisdiction over the commission that includes the |
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commission's findings and recommendations relating to changes in |
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policies, rules, and statutes necessary to provide for or expedite |
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the extension of natural gas utility service to each county |
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described by Section 2 of this Act that lacks that service. |
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(b) The report must be issued by November 30, 2016. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires December 1, 2016. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2015. |