By: Anchia H.B. No. 2932

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

re lating to a study and report by the Bureau of Economic Geology on land shifting

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

SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 418, Government Code, is amended as follows:

Sec. 418.122. STATE STUDY OF LAND USE AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS. (a) The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and other state agencies, in conjunction with the division, shall keep land uses and construction of structures and other facilities under continuing study and shall identify areas that are particularly susceptible to severe land shifting, subsidence, flooding, or other catastrophes.

(b) The studies shall concentrate on means of reducing or avoiding the dangers and consequences of a catastrophe.

(c) The Bureau of Economic Geology shall conduct a study to examine earthquakes and land shifting occurring in the State of Texas. The study must identify:

(1) all earthquakes that occurred in the state above 1.1 on the Richter magnitude scale by date, intensity, location or general geographical description, and with a particular emphasis on any series of earthquake events;

(2) the approximate focal depths and epicenters of the earthquakes and any new or developing fault lines;

(3) causal factors that may have lead to the earthquake activity including all possible natural and anthropogenic causes and a correlation analysis of any environmental or man-made factors;

(4) the necessary equipment and related cost needed to maintain a scientifically adequate seismic network to continue the study and best practices identified in other states for studying earthquakes and land shifting;

(5) any hazard assessments in coordination and conjunction with the Division of Emergency Management and local emergency management personnel; and

(6) any other information the Bureau believes is necessary for inclusion in the study; and

(7) recommendations for reducing earthquakes induced by anthropogenic causes.

(b) The Bureau of Economic Geology shall coordinate with the USGS National Earthquake Information Center and other qualified academic partners in conducting the study.

(c) Not later than December 1 of even numbered years, the Bureau of Economic Geology shall submit to the Governor and the standing legislative committees with primary jurisdiction over state finance, public safety and urban affairs the results of the study and any recommendations for legislative or other action.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2015.