86R26440 BRG-D
 
  By: Anchia, Turner of Dallas, H.B. No. 864
      Turner of Tarrant, et al.
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 864:
 
  By:  Paddie C.S.H.B. No. 864
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to pipeline incidents; clarifying changes to related
  administrative penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 121.206(a) and (d), Utilities Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The railroad commission may assess an administrative
  penalty against a person who violates Section 121.201 or a safety
  standard or other rule prescribed or adopted under this subchapter
  [that section].
         (d)  The railroad commission by rule shall adopt guidelines
  to be used in determining the amount of a penalty under this
  subchapter. The guidelines shall include a penalty calculation
  worksheet that specifies the typical penalty for certain
  violations, circumstances justifying enhancement of a penalty and
  the amount of the enhancement, and circumstances justifying a
  reduction in a penalty and the amount of the reduction. The
  guidelines shall take into account:
               (1)  the person's history of previous violations of
  Section 121.201 or a safety standard or other rule prescribed or
  adopted under this subchapter [that section], including the number
  of previous violations;
               (2)  the seriousness of the violation and of any
  pollution resulting from the violation;
               (3)  any hazard to the health or safety of the public;
               (4)  the degree of culpability;
               (5)  the demonstrated good faith of the person charged;
  and
               (6)  any other factor the commission considers
  relevant.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter E, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is
  amended by adding Section 121.214 to read as follows:
         Sec. 121.214.  PIPELINE INCIDENT REPORTING AND RECORDS. (a)  
  In this section:
               (1)  "Distribution gas pipeline facility" means a
  pipeline facility that distributes natural gas directly to end use
  customers.
               (2)  "Pipeline incident" means an event involving a
  release of gas from a pipeline that:
                     (A)  under federal regulations, gives rise to a
  duty of a distribution gas pipeline facility operator to report the
  event to a federal agency; or
                     (B)  results in one or more of the following
  consequences:
                           (i)  a death or a personal injury
  necessitating in-patient hospitalization;
                           (ii)  estimated property damage greater than
  or equal to the greater of:
                                 (a)  $50,000, including loss to the
  operator, loss to others, or both, but excluding cost of gas lost;
  or
                                 (b)  an amount under federal
  regulations that gives rise to the duty of a distribution gas
  pipeline facility operator to report the event to a federal agency;
  or
                           (iii)  unintentional estimated gas loss of
  three million cubic feet or more.
               (3)  "State record" has the meaning assigned by Section
  441.180, Government Code.
         (b)  The railroad commission by rule shall require a
  distribution gas pipeline facility operator, after a pipeline
  incident involving the operator's pipelines, to:
               (1)  notify the commission of the incident before the
  expiration of one hour following the operator's discovery of the
  incident; and
               (2)  provide the following information to the
  commission:
                     (A)  the pipeline operator's name and telephone
  number;
                     (B)  the location of the incident;
                     (C)  the time of the incident;
                     (D)  the fatalities and personal injuries caused
  by the incident;
                     (E)  the telephone number of the operator's
  on-site person;
                     (F)  the cost of gas lost;
                     (G)  estimated property damage to the operator and
  others;
                     (H)  any other significant facts relevant to the
  incident, including facts related to ignition, explosion,
  rerouting of traffic, evacuation of a building, and media interest;
  and
                     (I)  other information required under federal
  regulations to be provided to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
  Safety Administration or a successor agency after a pipeline
  incident or similar incident.
         (c)  The railroad commission shall retain state records of
  the railroad commission regarding a pipeline incident perpetually.
         SECTION 3.  The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt the
  rules required by Section 121.214, Utilities Code, as added by this
  Act, not later than December 31, 2019.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.