Bill Text: TX HB2819 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the TexNet seismic monitoring program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/17 [HB2819 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB2819-Introduced.html
  85R15027 TYPED
 
  By: Darby H.B. No. 2819
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing an Advisory Committee for the TexNet
  Monitoring Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Add new Chapter 157 to the Education Code to read
  as follows:
  CHAPTER 157. TexNet Seismic Monitoring Advisory Committee
         Sec. 157.001   DEFINITION. In this Chapter, the "TexNet
  Seismic Monitoring Program" means the program administered by the
  Texas Bureau of Economic Geology which oversees an array of
  equipment for a seismic network to study seismic events in Texas.
         Sec. 157.002  TexNet Advisory Committee.
               (1)  For as long as the TexNet Seismic Monitoring
  Program receives funds from the State of Texas, there shall be a
  TexNet Advisory Committee composed of ten members, three to be
  appointed by the Governor, three to be appointed by the Lieutenant
  Governor, three to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one
  to be an employee of the Texas Railroad Commission who specializes
  in seismology, geomechanical engineering, reservoir engineering or
  another related field and is appointed by the Executive Director of
  the Texas Railroad Commission. At least one appointment each from
  the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker must be from the oil
  and gas industry. No person affiliated with or under contract for
  services under this program with the Bureau of Economic Geology may
  serve as a voting member of the Advisory Committee.
         (2)  The TexNet Economic Advisory Committee shall:
         (a)  Develop in consultation with Bureau of Economic Geology
  staff a program of work for the TexNet program and any affiliated
  research efforts to include acquisition and deployment of
  equipment, contracting with vendors, determine scope of research
  program and any other use of funds appropriated by the Legislature
  for the TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program and any associated
  research.
         (b)  Approve an annual budget for the use funds appropriated
  by the Legislature to the TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program;
         (c)  provide oversight and input on the
  acquisition,deployment and operation of new and existing Program
  equipment; 
         (d)  Prepare a biennial report to be delivered the House
  Energy Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Economic
  Development Committees on or before December 1 of even numbered
  years regarding the use of the funds, a complete listing and
  accounting of all research funded through the program including a
  listing of contractors, itemized budget for each program element,
  complete listing of geographic coverage of the Program, important
  research undertaken and any findings or progress of the research
  for the Program, and recommendations related to the ongoing
  operations and requirements of the Program; 
         (e)  Ensure that there is a monthly transmission of the data
  collected by the seismic equipment to the Incorporated Research
  Institutes for Seismology database; and
         (f)  Receive quarterly updates from the Bureau of Economic
  Geology regarding the progress of the program, expenditures made in
  connection with the Program as approved by the TexNet Advisory
  Committee, and any other information related to the program
  requested of the Bureau of Economic Geology.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
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