86R11647 JXC-D
 
  By: Zwiener H.B. No. 4060
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a program administered by the Railroad Commission of
  Texas to provide grants to promote pipeline emergency preparedness;
  authorizing a fee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
  Code, is amended by adding Section 81.0715 to read as follows:
         Sec. 81.0715.  EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FEES AND GRANTS. (a)  
  The commission by rule shall establish pipeline emergency
  preparedness fees to be assessed for permits or registrations for
  pipelines under the jurisdiction of the commission's pipeline
  safety and regulatory program.
         (b)  Fees collected under this section shall be deposited to
  the credit of a dedicated account in the general revenue fund.  
  Money in the account may be appropriated only for the purposes of
  the grant program established by this section and associated
  administrative expenses.
         (c)  The commission shall establish a grant program to
  provide funding for emergency preparedness expenses, such as the
  creation of evacuation plans for pipeline-related emergencies,
  such as spills or leaks.
         (d)  The commission may provide a grant under this section
  only to a political subdivision that:
               (1)  provides emergency services to respond to
  pipeline-related emergencies; and
               (2)  is located within five miles of a pipeline. 
         (e)  The commission may establish the fees in an amount
  necessary to provide a reasonable amount of funding for the grant
  program established by this section, based on emergency
  preparedness expenses typically required by political subdivisions
  for pipeline-related emergencies.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.