BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3726

By: Dale

Energy Resources

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that a certain provision relating to additional examinations and continuing education for certain persons under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code is not being adequately enforced and allege that this type of additional examination and instruction is not required for the renewal of other licenses under the purview of the Railroad Commission of Texas. C.S.H.B. 3726 seeks to address this issue by changing the railroad commission's responsibility with respect to that provision.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3726 amends the Natural Resources Code to remove the requirement that the Railroad Commission of Texas by appropriate rule require, in addition to certain other examination requirements for certain persons under the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code, an examination for technical competence that is validated by a recognized educational testing organization or similar organization or attendance at approved academic, trade, professional, or railroad commission-sponsored seminars, other continuing education programs, and periodic reexaminations. The bill instead authorizes the railroad commission by rule to require such an examination for technical competence or attendance at such seminars or other continuing education programs in addition to those other examination requirements.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3726 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 113.087(m), Natural Resources Code, is repealed.	No equivalent provision. (But see SECTION 1 below.)
No equivalent provision. (But see SECTION 1 above.)	SECTION 1.  Section 113.087(m), Natural Resources Code, is amended to read as follows: (m)  The commission[,] by [appropriate] rule may[, shall] require, in addition to examination requirements as set out in Subsections (b), (c), and (d) [of this section]: (1)  an examination for technical competence that is validated by a recognized educational testing organization or similar organization; or (2)  attendance at approved academic, trade, professional, or commission-sponsored seminars or[,] other continuing education programs[, and periodic reexaminations].
SECTION 2.  Section 113.087, Natural Resources Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to an application for an original or renewal license submitted on or after the effective date of this Act.  An application submitted before that date is governed by the law in effect on the date the application was submitted, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.