Bill Text: TX HB3093 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the name and governance of the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-19 - Referred to State Affairs [HB3093 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3093-Introduced.html
87R11782 CXP-D | ||
By: Smithee | H.B. No. 3093 |
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relating to the name and governance of the Public Utility | ||
Commission of Texas. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Utilities Code, is amended by adding | ||
Section 1.004 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1.004. REFERENCE TO PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSIONER OR | ||
COMMISSION. In this code: | ||
(1) a reference to a commissioner, the commissioners, | ||
or the presiding officer of the Public Utility Commission of Texas | ||
means the commissioner of the Department of Public Utility; and | ||
(2) a reference to the Public Utility Commission of | ||
Texas means the Department of Public Utility. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 12.001, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 12.001. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITY [ |
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exercises the jurisdiction and powers conferred by this title. | ||
SECTION 3. Section 12.003, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 12.003. SEAL. (a) The department [ |
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seal bearing the inscription: "Department of Public Utility | ||
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(b) The seal shall be affixed to each record and to an | ||
authentication of a copy of a record. The department [ |
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may require the seal to be affixed to other instruments. | ||
(c) A court of this state shall take judicial notice of the | ||
seal. | ||
SECTION 4. Sections 12.051(a) and (c), Utilities Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) The [ |
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advice and consent of the senate to oversee the department. | ||
(c) The commissioner serves a two-year term that expires | ||
September 1 of each odd-numbered year [ |
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SECTION 5. Section 12.057, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 12.057. COMPENSATION. The annual salary of the | ||
commissioner [ |
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SECTION 6. The heading to Section 12.059, Utilities Code, | ||
is amended to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 12.059. TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COMMISSIONER | ||
[ |
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SECTION 7. Section 12.156, Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 12.156. QUALIFICATIONS AND STANDARDS OF CONDUCT | ||
INFORMATION. The executive director or the executive director's | ||
designee shall provide to the commissioner [ |
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department [ |
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information regarding their: | ||
(1) qualifications for office or employment under this | ||
title; and | ||
(2) responsibilities under applicable laws relating | ||
to standards of conduct for state officers and employees. | ||
SECTION 8. Section 39.917(b), Utilities Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
(b) The Texas Electric Grid Security Council is composed of: | ||
(1) the commissioner [ |
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designated by the commissioner; | ||
(2) the chief executive officer of the independent | ||
organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power | ||
region or a representative designated by the chief executive | ||
officer; and | ||
(3) the governor or a representative designated by the | ||
governor. | ||
SECTION 9. Sections 12.052 and 12.056, Utilities Code, are | ||
repealed. | ||
SECTION 10. (a) On the effective date of this Act: | ||
(1) the name of the Public Utility Commission of Texas | ||
is changed to the Department of Public Utility, and all powers, | ||
rights, duties, and obligations of the Public Utility Commission of | ||
Texas are the powers, duties, rights, and obligations of the | ||
Department of Public Utility; and | ||
(2) any appropriation for the Public Utility | ||
Commission of Texas is an appropriation for the Department of | ||
Public Utility. | ||
(b) On and after the effective date of this Act, a reference | ||
in law to the Public Utility Commission of Texas is a reference to | ||
the Department of Public Utility. | ||
(c) The Department of Public Utility is the authority | ||
formerly known as the Public Utility Commission of Texas in all | ||
respects. All personnel, equipment, data, documents, facilities, | ||
contracts, items, other property, rules, decisions, and | ||
proceedings of or involving the Public Utility Commission of Texas | ||
are unaffected by the change in the name of the authority. | ||
SECTION 11. The governor shall promptly appoint the first | ||
commissioner to the Department of Public Utility in accordance with | ||
Section 12.051, Utilities Code, as amended by this Act. The term of | ||
the first commissioner expires September 1, 2023. | ||
SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |