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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the name and governance of the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Utilities Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 1.004 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1.004. REFERENCE TO PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONER OR |
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COMMISSION. In this code: |
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(1) a reference to a commissioner, the commissioners, |
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or the presiding officer of the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
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means the commissioner of the Department of Public Utility; and |
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(2) a reference to the Public Utility Commission of |
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Texas means the Department of Public Utility. |
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SECTION 2. Section 12.001, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.001. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITY [COMMISSION OF |
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TEXAS]. The Department of Public Utility [Commission of Texas] |
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exercises the jurisdiction and powers conferred by this title. |
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SECTION 3. Section 12.003, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.003. SEAL. (a) The department [commission] has a |
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seal bearing the inscription: "Department of Public Utility |
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[Commission of Texas]." |
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(b) The seal shall be affixed to each record and to an |
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authentication of a copy of a record. The department [commission] |
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may require the seal to be affixed to other instruments. |
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(c) A court of this state shall take judicial notice of the |
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seal. |
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SECTION 4. Sections 12.051(a) and (c), Utilities Code, are |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The [commission is composed of three commissioners |
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appointed by the] governor shall appoint a commissioner with the |
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advice and consent of the senate to oversee the department. |
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(c) The commissioner serves a two-year term that expires |
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September 1 of each odd-numbered year [Commissioners serve |
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staggered, six-year terms]. |
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SECTION 5. Section 12.057, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.057. COMPENSATION. The annual salary of the |
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commissioner [commissioners] is determined by the legislature. |
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SECTION 6. The heading to Section 12.059, Utilities Code, |
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is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.059. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COMMISSIONER |
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[COMMISSIONERS]. |
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SECTION 7. Section 12.156, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.156. QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT |
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INFORMATION. The executive director or the executive director's |
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designee shall provide to the commissioner [commissioners] and |
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department [commission] employees as often as necessary |
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information regarding their: |
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(1) qualifications for office or employment under this |
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title; and |
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(2) responsibilities under applicable laws relating |
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to standards of conduct for state officers and employees. |
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SECTION 8. Section 39.917(b), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The Texas Electric Grid Security Council is composed of: |
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(1) the commissioner [designated as presiding officer |
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of the commission under Section 12.052] or a representative |
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designated by the commissioner; |
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(2) the chief executive officer of the independent |
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organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power |
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region or a representative designated by the chief executive |
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officer; and |
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(3) the governor or a representative designated by the |
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governor. |
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SECTION 9. Sections 12.052 and 12.056, Utilities Code, are |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 10. (a) On the effective date of this Act: |
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(1) the name of the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
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is changed to the Department of Public Utility, and all powers, |
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rights, duties, and obligations of the Public Utility Commission of |
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Texas are the powers, duties, rights, and obligations of the |
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Department of Public Utility; and |
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(2) any appropriation for the Public Utility |
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Commission of Texas is an appropriation for the Department of |
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Public Utility. |
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(b) On and after the effective date of this Act, a reference |
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in law to the Public Utility Commission of Texas is a reference to |
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the Department of Public Utility. |
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(c) The Department of Public Utility is the authority |
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formerly known as the Public Utility Commission of Texas in all |
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respects. All personnel, equipment, data, documents, facilities, |
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contracts, items, other property, rules, decisions, and |
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proceedings of or involving the Public Utility Commission of Texas |
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are unaffected by the change in the name of the authority. |
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SECTION 11. The governor shall promptly appoint the first |
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commissioner to the Department of Public Utility in accordance with |
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Section 12.051, Utilities Code, as amended by this Act. The term of |
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the first commissioner expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |