H.B. No. 2819
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the
  TexNet seismic monitoring program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 67, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter E to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E.  THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
         Sec. 67.71.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "bureau" means
  The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.
         Sec. 67.72.  TEXNET TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a)  In
  this section, "program" means the TexNet seismic monitoring program
  administered by the bureau.
         (b)  The TexNet Technical Advisory Committee is established
  as an advisory committee within the bureau.
         (c)  The advisory committee consists of nine members
  appointed by the governor, including:
               (1)  one representative of the Railroad Commission of
  Texas who specializes in seismology, geomechanical engineering,
  reservoir engineering, or another related field recommended to the
  governor by the executive director of the Railroad Commission of
  Texas; and
               (2)  at least three representatives from the oil and
  gas industry, not to include the representative appointed under
  Subdivision (1).
         (d)  The governor shall designate a member of the advisory
  committee as the chair of the advisory committee to serve in that
  capacity at the pleasure of the governor.
         (e)  A person affiliated with the bureau or under contract
  for services with the bureau may not serve as a voting member of the
  advisory committee.
         (f)  The director of the bureau shall serve, ex officio, as a
  nonvoting member of the advisory committee.
         (g)  The advisory committee shall:
               (1)  in coordination with the bureau, develop
  recommendations for a program of work to assist the program and any
  research efforts affiliated with the program in accomplishing the
  goals of the program, including recommendations regarding:
                     (A)  the acquisition and deployment of equipment;
                     (B)  contracting with vendors;
                     (C)  determining the scope of research programs
  associated with the program; and
                     (D)  determining the scope of any use of funds
  appropriated by the legislature for the program or associated
  research;
               (2)  review and approve or reject expenditures made in
  connection with the program;
               (3)  prepare and approve an annual budget for the use of
  any funds appropriated for the program by the legislature;
               (4)  provide oversight and input on the acquisition,
  deployment, and operation of new and existing program equipment;
               (5)  ensure that there is a monthly transmission of the
  data collected by seismic equipment operated under the program to
  the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology database;
  and
               (6)  solicit from the bureau quarterly updates
  regarding the progress of the program, expenditures made in
  connection with the program, and any other information related to
  the program that the advisory committee finds necessary.
         (h)  Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
  the advisory committee shall prepare and submit to the governor,
  the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
  representatives a report that includes:
               (1)  a review of the use of any funds appropriated for
  the program by the legislature;
               (2)  a complete listing and accounting of all research
  funded through the program, including:
                     (A)  a list of contractors employed under the
  program;
                     (B)  an itemized budget for each program element;
  and
                     (C)  a list of the geographic coverage of the
  program; and
               (3)  recommendations related to the ongoing operations
  and requirements of the program.
         (i)  This section expires September 1, 2019.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2819 was passed by the House on May 4,
  2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 2819 was passed by the Senate on May
  24, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor