By: Goldman H.B. No. 14

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation of the Texas Electricity Supply Chain Mapping Committee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is amended by adding Subchapter F to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CHAIN MAPPING COMMITTEE

Sec. 38.201. TEXAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CHAIN MAPPING COMMITTEE. (a) The Texas Electricity Supply Chain Mapping Committee is a committee to:

(1) map the state's electricity supply chain;

(2) identify critical infrastructure sources along the electricity supply chain;

(3) make recommendations on measures to prepare facilities that provide electric and gas service to maintain service in an extreme weather event; and

(4) designate priority service needs in extreme weather events.

(b) The committee is composed of:

(1) the executive director of the Railroad Commission of Texas;

(2) the executive director of the commission;

(3) the president and chief executive office of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas; and

(4) the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.

(c) Each member of the committee may designate a personal representative from the member's organization to represent the member on the committee, but that designation does not relieve the member of responsibility for the acts and omissions of the representative.

(d) The executive director of the commission shall serve as chairman, and the executive director of the Railroad Commission shall serve as vice-chairman of the committee.

Sec. 38.202. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The committee shall meet not less than once each calendar quarter at a time determined by the committee and at the call of the chairman.

(c) Each member of the committee may receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses in carrying out committee responsibilities as provided by legislative appropriations. Each member who is a representative of a state entity shall be reimbursed from the money budgeted to the member's state entity.

(d) Each entity listed in Sections 38.201(b)(1) through (4) of this code that is represented on the committee shall provide staff as necessary to assist the committee in carrying out its responsibilities.

(e) The committee is subject to Chapter 2001, Government Code, Chapter 551, Government Code, and Chapter 552, Government Code.

Sec. 38.203. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. (a) The committee shall:

(1) map the state's electricity supply chain in order to designate priority electricity service needs in extreme weather events;

(2) identify and designate the sources in the supply chain necessary to operate critical infrastructure, as that term is defined in Section 421.001, Government Code;

(3) develop a communication system between the critical infrastructure sources, the commission, and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to ensure that electricity supply is prioritized to those sources in an extreme weather event;

(4) make recommendations on measures to prepare facilities that provide electric and gas service to maintain service in an extreme weather event; and

(5) publish a report required by Section 38.204 of this code.

(b) The commission shall create and maintain a database identifying the critical infrastructure sources with priority electricity needs during an extreme weather event. The database shall be updated annually.

Sec. 38.204. ELECTRIC SUPPLY MAPPING REPORT. The committee shall publish not later than January 1, 2022, a report to the Governor, Lt. Governor, Speaker, and Legislature covering the activities and findings of the committee. The report must:

(1) provide a detailed map of the electricity supply chain and identify those sources designated as necessary to operate critical infrastructure;

(2) recommend a clear and thorough communication system between the entities listed in Sections 38.201(b)(1) through (4) of this code and the critical infrastructure sources to ensure that electricity supply is prioritized to those sources during extreme weather events.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.