BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 2675
86R13311 BRG-F	By: Geren (Birdwell)
	Natural Resources & Economic Development
	4/22/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

It has been suggested that the cap on the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund limits the ability of the Railroad Commission of Texas to retain dedicated funds to support critical projects whose costs exceed biennial appropriations, including projects for transitioning off of an older mainframe computer system, plugging wells, and digitally archiving paper and microfiche well log data. H.B. 2675 seeks to address this issue by repealing a provision relating to the balance of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund.

H.B. 2675 amends current law relating to the repeal of the provisions providing for the suspension of the collection of certain fees when the balance in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund exceeds a specified amount.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 81.116(d), Natural Resources Code, to delete existing text requiring the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) to suspend collection of the oil-field regulatory cleanup fee on oil in the manner provided by Section 81.067 (Oil and Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund).

SECTION 2. Amends Section 81.117(d), Natural Resources Code, to delete existing text requiring the comptroller to suspend collection of the oil-field regulatory cleanup fee on gas in the manner provided by Section 81.067.�

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 81.067(b) (relating to requiring the Railroad Commission of Texas to certify to the comptroller the date on which the balance equals a certain amount for purposes of suspending fee collection until the balance falls below a certain other amount), Natural Resources Code.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2019.