Bill Text: TX HB3973 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: Relating to a study on abandoned oil and gas wells in this state and the use of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Passed) 2021-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/21 [HB3973 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB3973-Enrolled.html
H.B. No. 3973 |
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relating to a study on abandoned oil and gas wells in this state and | ||
the use of the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. (a) A joint interim committee is created to | ||
study abandoned oil and gas wells in this state and the use of the | ||
oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund. | ||
(b) The committee shall be composed of: | ||
(1) five members appointed by the lieutenant governor; | ||
and | ||
(2) five members appointed by the speaker of the house | ||
of representatives. | ||
(c) The committee shall convene at the call of the presiding | ||
officer. | ||
(d) The committee has all other powers and duties provided | ||
to a special or select committee by the rules of the senate and | ||
house of representatives, by Subchapter B, Chapter 301, Government | ||
Code, and by policies of the senate and house committees on | ||
administration. | ||
(e) Not later than the 60th day after the effective date of | ||
this Act, the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of | ||
representatives shall appoint the members of the interim committee | ||
created under this section. | ||
(f) The committee shall: | ||
(1) study matters related to abandoned oil and gas | ||
wells in this state, including the costs associated with plugging | ||
abandoned wells and bonding requirements imposed on owners or | ||
operators of oil and gas wells; | ||
(2) identify potential solutions to reduce the need | ||
for general revenue spending to plug abandoned wells; | ||
(3) conduct a review of the oil and gas regulation and | ||
cleanup fund, including: | ||
(A) revenue sources of the fund; | ||
(B) projected revenue for the fund through fiscal | ||
year 2025 based on the fund's existing fee and fine structure; and | ||
(C) an assessment of the rules and statutory | ||
limits that determine the amount of the fees and fines that | ||
contribute to the fund; and | ||
(4) evaluate and identify other sources of potential | ||
revenue, including federal funds and other existing taxes and fees | ||
paid to the benefit of the state which could be utilized to meet the | ||
goals of the committee. | ||
(g) The Railroad Commission of Texas shall provide | ||
information to the committee necessary to conduct the study under | ||
Subsection (f) of this section, including information related to: | ||
(1) budget and performance measures of the commission | ||
and fees and fines collected by the commission; and | ||
(2) any regulatory or statutory changes needed to | ||
assure adequate operating revenue for the commission, including | ||
revenue used to plug abandoned oil and gas wells. | ||
(h) Not later than December 1, 2022, the joint interim | ||
committee shall report the committee's findings and | ||
recommendations to the legislature. | ||
(i) The committee is abolished and this section expires | ||
January 1, 2023. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I certify that H.B. No. 3973 was passed by the House on April | ||
29, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 108, Nays 37, 1 present, not | ||
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. | ||
No. 3973 on May 30, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 141, Nays 0, | ||
1 present, not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
I certify that H.B. No. 3973 was passed by the Senate, with | ||
amendments, on May 24, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays | ||
1. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
APPROVED: __________________ | ||
Date | ||
__________________ | ||
Governor |