By: Alonzo H.B. No. 4113
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of
  Texas.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 81. TEXAS OIL & GAS [RAILROAD] COMMISSION [OF TEXAS]
         SECTION 2.  Section 81.001, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Commission" means the Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad]
  Commission [of Texas].
               (2)  "Commissioner" means any member of the Texas Oil &
  Gas [Railroad] Commission [of Texas].
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 81.003 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.003.  TEXAS OIL & GAS COMMISSION. (a)  The Railroad
  Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Oil & Gas Commission.
         (b)  A reference in law to:
               (1)  the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas
  Oil & Gas Commission; and
               (2)  a railroad commissioner or a member of the
  Railroad Commission of Texas means a member of the Texas Oil & Gas
  Commission.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 81.01001(a) and (b), Natural Resources
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission [of Texas] is
  subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act).  Unless
  continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission
  is abolished September 1, 2017.
         (b)  The Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission [of Texas]
  shall pay the costs incurred by the Sunset Advisory Commission in
  performing a review of the commission under this section.  The
  Sunset Advisory Commission shall determine the costs, and the
  commission shall pay the amount of those costs promptly on receipt
  of a statement from the Sunset Advisory Commission detailing the
  costs.
         SECTION 5.  Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 81.010015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.010015.  ELECTION AND TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS;
  VACANCIES. (a)  The commission is composed of three commissioners
  elected at the general election for state and county officers.
         (b)  Commissioners serve staggered terms of six years,
  with
  the term of one commissioner expiring December 31 of each
  even-numbered year.
         (c)  The governor shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy on
  the commission until the next general election.
         SECTION 6.  Section 81.01005, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.01005.  NAME AND SEAL. (a) The commissioners are
  known collectively as the "Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission
  [of Texas]."
         (b)  The seal of the commission contains a star of five
  points with the words "Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission [of
  Texas]" engraved on it.
         SECTION 7.  The heading to Section 81.0521, Natural
  Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.0521.  FEE FOR APPLICATION FOR EXCEPTION TO
  [RAILROAD] COMMISSION RULE.
         SECTION 8.  Section 52.092(c), Election Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (c)  Statewide offices of the state government shall be
  listed in the following order:
               (1)  governor;
               (2)  lieutenant governor;
               (3)  attorney general;
               (4)  comptroller of public accounts;
               (5)  commissioner of the General Land Office;
               (6)  commissioner of agriculture;
               (7)  oil & gas [railroad] commissioner;
               (8)  chief justice, supreme court;
               (9)  justice, supreme court;
               (10)  presiding judge, court of criminal appeals;
               (11)  judge, court of criminal appeals.
         SECTION 9.  On the effective date of this Act, the name of
  the Railroad Commission of Texas is changed to the Texas Oil & Gas
  Commission. The change of the agency's name does not affect:
               (1)  the agency's powers, duties, rights, or
  obligations;
               (2)  the agency's personnel, equipment, data,
  documents, facilities, contracts, items, other property,
  appropriations, rules, or decisions;
               (3)  a proceeding of or involving the agency under the
  name of the Railroad Commission of Texas; or
               (4)  the terms of the chairman or other members of the
  governing body of the agency.
         SECTION 10.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.