89R10497 AND-F

By: Schwertner S.B. No. 1495

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of an Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Advisory Board.

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

SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter B, Chapter 2311, Occupations Code, as added by Chapter 1153 (S.B. 1001), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is amended to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B. COMMISSION AND DEPARTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES

SECTION 2. Chapter 2311, Occupations Code, as added by Chapter 1153 (S.B. 1001), Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is amended by adding Subchapter B-1 to read as follows:

SUBCHAPTER B-1. ELECTRIC VEHICLE SUPPLY EQUIPMENT ADVISORY BOARD

Sec. 2311.0251. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:

(1) "Advisory board" means the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Advisory Board.

(2) "Executive director" means the executive director of the department.

Sec. 2311.0252. ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERSHIP. (a) The advisory board consists of nine voting members appointed by the presiding officer of the commission, with the commission's approval, as follows:

(1) three members who represent electric vehicle supply equipment companies;

(2) two members who install or service electric vehicle supply equipment;

(3) two members who represent the motor fuel retail industry;

(4) one member who represents a public utility company; and

(5) one member of the public.

(b) The presiding officer of the commission, with the approval of the commission, shall appoint two ex officio nonvoting members of the board. An ex officio member is not counted as a member for purposes of establishing a quorum. Members appointed under this subsection must include:

(1) one member who represents the Texas Department of Transportation; and

(2) one member who represents the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.

(c) Appointments to the advisory board shall be made without regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or national origin of the appointees.

Sec. 2311.0253. TERMS; VACANCIES. (a) Advisory board members serve six-year terms.

(b) If a vacancy occurs during a member's term, the presiding officer of the commission, with the commission's approval, shall appoint a replacement to fill the unexpired term.

Sec. 2311.0254. PRESIDING OFFICER. The presiding officer of the commission, with the commission's approval, shall appoint one advisory board member to serve as presiding officer of the board for a term of two years.

Sec. 2311.0255. ADVISORY BOARD DUTIES. The advisory board may advise the commission and department on:

(1) the adoption of appropriate standards for the installation, maintenance, calibration, alteration, operation, testing, or inspection, as applicable, of electric vehicle supply equipment; and

(2) other issues affecting electric vehicle charging stations.

Sec. 2311.0256. MEETINGS; QUORUM. (a) The advisory board shall meet at the call of the executive director or the presiding officer of the commission.

(b) A majority of the voting members of the advisory board constitutes a quorum.

Sec. 2311.0257. EXPIRATION. The advisory board is abolished and this subchapter expires December 1, 2030.

SECTION 3. Not later than December 1, 2025, the presiding officer of the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation shall appoint members to the Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Advisory Board in accordance with Section 2311.0252, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. 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, 2025.