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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Electricity Supply Chain |
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Security and Mapping Committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter F to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY AND MAPPING |
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COMMITTEE |
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Sec. 38.201. TEXAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY AND |
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MAPPING COMMITTEE. (a) In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Electricity supply chain" means: |
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(A) facilities and methods used for producing, |
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processing, or transporting natural gas for delivery to electric |
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generation facilities; and |
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(B) critical infrastructure necessary to |
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maintain electricity service. |
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(2) "Natural gas delivery system" means: |
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(A) facilities and methods used for producing, |
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processing, or transporting natural gas for delivery to |
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distribution gas pipeline facilities; and |
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(B) critical infrastructure necessary to |
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maintain natural gas service. |
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(b) The Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping |
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Committee is established to: |
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(1) map this state's electricity supply chain and |
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natural gas delivery system; |
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(2) identify critical infrastructure sources in the |
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electricity supply chain and natural gas delivery system; |
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(3) establish best practices to prepare facilities |
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that provide electric and natural gas service to maintain service |
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in an extreme weather event and recommend oversight and compliance |
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standards for those facilities; and |
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(4) designate priority service needs to prepare for, |
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respond to, and recover from an extreme weather event. |
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(c) The committee is composed of: |
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(1) the executive director of the commission; |
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(2) the executive director of the Railroad Commission |
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of Texas; |
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(3) the president and the chief executive officer of |
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the independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the |
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ERCOT power region; and |
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(4) the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency |
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Management. |
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(d) Each member of the committee may designate a personal |
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representative from the member's organization to represent the |
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member on the committee. A member is responsible for the acts and |
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omissions of the designee related to the designee's representation |
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on the committee. |
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(e) The executive director of the commission serves as the |
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chair of the committee. The executive director of the Railroad |
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Commission of Texas serves as vice chair of the committee. |
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Sec. 38.202. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The committee shall meet |
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at least once each calendar quarter at a time determined by the |
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committee and at the call of the chair. |
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(b) A member who is an ex officio member from a state agency |
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shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses in carrying |
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out committee responsibilities from money appropriated for that |
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purpose in the agency's budget. Other members of the committee may |
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receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses in carrying |
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out committee responsibilities from money appropriated for that |
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purpose. |
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(c) The commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and |
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the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall provide staff as |
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necessary to assist the committee in carrying out the committee's |
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duties and responsibilities. |
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(d) The independent organization certified under Section |
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39.151 for the ERCOT power region shall provide staff as necessary |
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to assist the committee in carrying out the committee's duties and |
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responsibilities. |
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(e) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the |
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committee is subject to Chapters 2001, 551, and 552, Government |
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Code. |
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Sec. 38.203. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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committee shall: |
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(1) map the state's electricity supply chain in order |
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to designate priority electricity service needs during extreme |
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weather events; |
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(2) identify and designate the sources in the |
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electricity supply chain necessary to operate critical |
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infrastructure, as defined by Section 421.001, Government Code; |
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(3) develop a communication system between critical |
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infrastructure sources, the commission, and the independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power |
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region to ensure that electricity and natural gas supplies are |
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prioritized to those sources during an extreme weather event; and |
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(4) establish best practices to prepare facilities |
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that provide electric and natural gas service to maintain service |
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in an extreme weather event and recommend oversight and compliance |
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standards for those facilities. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) create and maintain a database identifying |
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critical infrastructure sources with priority electricity needs to |
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be used during an extreme weather event; and |
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(2) update the database at least once each year. |
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(c) The information maintained in the database is |
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confidential under Section 418.181, Government Code, and not |
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subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
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Sec. 38.204. ELECTRIC SUPPLY MAPPING REPORT. (a) Not later |
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than January 1, 2022, the committee shall submit a report to the |
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governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and the legislature on the activities and findings |
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of the committee. The report must: |
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(1) provide an overview of the committee's findings |
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regarding mapping the electricity supply chain and identifying |
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sources necessary to operate critical infrastructure; |
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(2) recommend a clear and thorough communication |
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system for the commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the |
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Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power |
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region and critical infrastructure sources in this state to ensure |
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that electricity supply is prioritized to those sources during |
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extreme weather events; and |
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(3) include a list of the established best practices |
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and recommended oversight and compliance standards adopted under |
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Section 38.203(a)(4). |
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(b) The report is public information except for portions |
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considered confidential under Chapter 552, Government Code, or |
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other state or federal law. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |