BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.S.B. 736

By: Hancock

Land & Resource Management

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note the need for a report on the sale of electric power by the General Land Office. C.S.S.B. 736 seeks to provide for such a report.

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.S.B. 736 requires the General Land Office (GLO) to collect information on the sale of electric power by the GLO. The bill requires the GLO, not later than September 1, 2018, to provide to the legislature a report on the collected information that includes, for each year, the number of participants, aggregate rates, general contract terms, and the extent of any fiscal impact on state resources of administering the program.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.

COMPARISON OF SENATE ENGROSSED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.S.B. 736 may differ from the engrossed in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the engrossed and committee substitute versions of the bill.

SENATE ENGROSSED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Section 35.107 to read as follows: Sec. 35.107.  EXPIRATION OF AUTHORITY TO SELL OR CONVEY POWER.  (a)  Notwithstanding another provision of this subchapter, the commissioner's authority to sell or convey power under this subchapter expires September 1, 2022. (b)  This section does not affect the commissioner's authority to sell or convey natural gas under this subchapter.	No equivalent provision.
SECTION 2.  (a)  The General Land Office or an entity operating under a contract with the General Land Office may continue to provide retail electric service in accordance with Subchapter D, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, as that subchapter existed before the effective date of this Act, under the terms of an agreement with a customer entered into before the effective date of this Act, only until the date the agreement expires. (b)  The General Land Office may not renew or extend the expiration or termination date of a contract to provide retail electric service in accordance with Subchapter D, Chapter 35, Utilities Code, to a date after September 1, 2022.	No equivalent provision.
SECTION 3.  (a)  The General Land Office shall collect information on the sale of electricity by the General Land Office and not later than September 1, 2021, provide to the legislature a report based on the collected information. (b)  The report must include and address for each year at least the following information: (1)  number of participants; (2)  aggregate rates; (3)  general contract terms; and (4)  the extent of any fiscal impact on state resources of administering the program.	SECTION 1.  (a)  The General Land Office shall collect information on the sale of electric power by the General Land Office. (b)  Not later than September 1, 2018, the General Land Office shall provide to the legislature a report on the information collected under Subsection (a).  The report must include the following information for each year: (1)  number of participants; (2)  aggregate rates; (3)  general contract terms; and (4)  the extent of any fiscal impact on state resources of administering the program.
SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.	SECTION 2. Same as engrossed version.