88R5949 ANG-D
 
  By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 3181
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to preparation for and response to weather emergencies
  that affect certain natural gas facilities; increasing the amount
  of civil and administrative penalties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 86.044(c), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  The commission by rule shall require a gas supply chain
  facility operator to implement measures to prepare to operate
  during a weather emergency. In adopting the rules, the commission
  shall take into consideration weather predictions produced by the
  office of the state climatologist. The rules must include a process
  that allows the commission to require a gas supply chain facility
  operator to implement measures recommended by the commission in a
  weather emergency preparedness report under Section 186.008(b)(4),
  Utilities Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 86.222(d), Natural Resources Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  The [classification] system established under
  Subsection (c) must [shall] provide that a violation is punishable
  by a penalty of, after taking into account the factors described by
  Subsection (c):
               (1)  at least $100 and not more than $1,000 for the
  first violation;
               (2)  at least $1,000 and not more than $50,000 for the
  second violation; and
               (3)  at least $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000 for
  the third violation and each subsequent violation [a penalty in an
  amount that exceeds $5,000 may be recovered only if the violation is
  included in the highest class of violations in the classification
  system].
         SECTION 3.  Section 121.2015(a-1), Utilities Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (a-1)  In adopting rules under Subsection (a)(3), the
  railroad commission shall take into consideration weather
  predictions produced by the office of the state climatologist. The
  rules must include a process that allows the railroad commission to
  require a gas pipeline facility operator to implement measures
  recommended by the railroad commission in a weather emergency
  preparedness report under Section 186.008(b)(4), Utilities Code.
         SECTION 4.  Section 121.206(e), Utilities Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (e)  The guidelines adopted under Subsection (d) must
  provide that a violation of a rule adopted under Section
  121.2015(a)(3) is punishable by a penalty of, after taking into
  account the factors described by Subsection (d):
               (1)  at least $100 and not more than $1,000 for the
  first violation;
               (2)  at least $1,000 and not more than $50,000 for the
  second violation; and
               (3)  at least $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000 for
  the third violation and each subsequent violation [in an amount
  that exceeds $5,000 for a violation of a rule adopted under Section
  121.2015(a)(3) may be assessed only if circumstances justify the
  enhancement of the penalty].
         SECTION 5.  The changes in law made by this Act to Section
  86.222, Natural Resources Code, and Section 121.206, Utilities
  Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a violation that occurs
  on or after the effective date of the rules adopted by the Railroad
  Commission of Texas under Section 86.222, Natural Resources Code,
  or Section 121.206, Utilities Code, as amended by this Act. A
  violation that occurs before the effective date of the rules
  adopted by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Section 86.222,
  Natural Resources Code, or Section 121.206, Utilities Code, as
  amended by this Act, is governed by the law in effect on the date the
  violation occurred, and that law is continued in effect for that
  purpose.
         SECTION 6.  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, 2023.