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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a program administered by the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas to provide grants to promote pipeline emergency preparedness; |
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authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.0715 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.0715. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FEES AND GRANTS. (a) |
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The commission by rule shall establish pipeline emergency |
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preparedness fees to be assessed for permits or registrations for |
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pipelines under the jurisdiction of the commission's pipeline |
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safety and regulatory program. |
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(b) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited to |
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the credit of a dedicated account in the general revenue fund. |
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Money in the account may be appropriated only for the purposes of |
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the grant program established by this section and associated |
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administrative expenses. |
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(c) The commission shall establish a grant program to |
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provide funding for emergency preparedness expenses, such as the |
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creation of evacuation plans for pipeline-related emergencies, |
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such as spills or leaks. |
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(d) The commission may provide a grant under this section |
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only to a political subdivision that: |
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(1) provides emergency services to respond to |
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pipeline-related emergencies; and |
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(2) is located within five miles of a pipeline. |
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(e) The commission may establish the fees in an amount |
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necessary to provide a reasonable amount of funding for the grant |
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program established by this section, based on emergency |
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preparedness expenses typically required by political subdivisions |
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for pipeline-related emergencies. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |