Bill Text: GA SR12 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

Georgia Senate Resolution 12 (Prior Session Legislation)

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: General Assembly; authorize to provide a general law for payment of rewards; first commercial oil and natural gas wells CA

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 6-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2010-02-17 - House Committee Favorably Reported [SR12 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2009-SR12-Comm_Sub.html

09 LC 25 5492S

The Senate Natural Resources and the Environment Committee offered the following substitute to SR 12:

A RESOLUTION

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the payment of rewards for the development and conservation of various energy resources in this state; to provide for the submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

The Constitution of Georgia is amended in Article III, Section VI, Paragraph VI by revising subparagraph (b) as follows:

"(b)(1) All laws heretofore adopted under Article III, Section VIII, Paragraph XII of the Constitution of 1976 in force and effect on June 30, 1983, shall continue in force and effect and may be amended if such amendments are consistent with the authority granted to the General Assembly by such provisions of said Constitution; provided, however, that the provisions of subparagraph (3) of said provision of the Constitution of 1976 shall be superseded by subparagraph (2) of this subparagraph.

(2)(A) The General Assembly may provide by general law for the payment of rewards to the first person or firm or combination thereof which puts down and brings in the first commercial oil well on land in this state, to the first person or firm or combination thereof which puts down and brings in the first commercial oil well off-shore in waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the jurisdiction of this state, to the first person or firm or combination thereof which puts down and brings in the first commercial natural gas well on land in this state, and to the first person or firm or combination thereof which puts down and brings in the first commercial natural gas well off-shore in waters of the Atlantic Ocean within the jurisdiction of this state. The amount of any such rewards, the minimal amounts of daily production required to qualify as commercial wells, and the authority for determining whether such wells are producing such minimal amounts of daily production shall be as established by general law. Such law shall provide for the distribution of the amount of the reward between the persons or firms which drill or cause to be drilled said wells and the contractors who furnish such equipment, among such workers and employees actually engaged in the job, and to the mineral, gas, or property owners where the wells are drilled. Said law shall provide for the method of payments by the Governor.

(B) The General Assembly may provide by general law for the payment of a reward to a person or firm who develops in this state a method, system, or device for substantial and commercially viable energy production utilizing sources other than fossil fuels to produce such energy. The General Assembly may also provide by general law for the payment of a reward to a person or firm who develops in this state a method, system, or device for substantial and commercially viable energy conservation to reduce dependence on fossil fuels as a source of energy. The amount of any such rewards, the minimal amounts of energy production or conservation required to qualify as substantial, and the authority for determining whether the requirements for such an award have been met shall be as established by general law. Such law shall provide for the distribution of the amount of the reward between persons or firms who cause such method, system, or device to be developed and among the workers and employees actually engaged in the job. Such law shall provide for the method of payments by the Governor."

SECTION 2.

The above proposed amendment to the Constitution shall be published and submitted as provided in Article X, Section I, Paragraph II of the Constitution. The ballot submitting the above proposed amendment shall have written or printed thereon the following:

"( ) YES

( ) NO

Shall the Constitution of Georgia be amended so as to authorize the General Assembly to provide by general law for the payment of rewards for the development and conservation of various energy resources in this state?"

All persons desiring to vote in favor of ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "Yes." All persons desiring to vote against ratifying the proposed amendment shall vote "No." If such amendment shall be ratified as provided in said Paragraph of the Constitution, it shall become a part of the Constitution of this state.