Bill Text: TX HB4113 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of Texas.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-31 - Referred to Energy Resources [HB4113 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB4113-Introduced.html

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By: Alonzo H.B. No. 4113

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the name and governance of the Railroad Commission of
Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended to read as follows:
CHAPTER 81. TEXAS OIL & GAS [RAILROAD] COMMISSION [OF TEXAS]
SECTION 2. Section 81.001, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 81.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Commission" means the Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad]
Commission [of Texas].
(2) "Commissioner" means any member of the Texas Oil &
Gas [Railroad] Commission [of Texas].
SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.003 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.003. TEXAS OIL & GAS COMMISSION. (a) The Railroad
Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Oil & Gas Commission.
(b) A reference in law to:
(1) the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas
Oil & Gas Commission; and
(2) a railroad commissioner or a member of the
Railroad Commission of Texas means a member of the Texas Oil & Gas
Commission.
SECTION 4. Sections 81.01001(a) and (b), Natural Resources
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission [of Texas] is
subject to Chapter 325, Government Code (Texas Sunset Act). Unless
continued in existence as provided by that chapter, the commission
is abolished September 1, 2017.
(b) The Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission [of Texas]
shall pay the costs incurred by the Sunset Advisory Commission in
performing a review of the commission under this section. The
Sunset Advisory Commission shall determine the costs, and the
commission shall pay the amount of those costs promptly on receipt
of a statement from the Sunset Advisory Commission detailing the
costs.
SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.010015 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.010015. ELECTION AND TERMS OF COMMISSIONERS;
VACANCIES. (a) The commission is composed of three commissioners
elected at the general election for state and county officers.
(b) Commissioners serve staggered terms of six years,
with
the term of one commissioner expiring December 31 of each
even-numbered year.
(c) The governor shall appoint a person to fill a vacancy on
the commission until the next general election.
SECTION 6. Section 81.01005, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 81.01005. NAME AND SEAL. (a) The commissioners are
known collectively as the "Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission
[of Texas]."
(b) The seal of the commission contains a star of five
points with the words "Texas Oil & Gas [Railroad] Commission [of
Texas]" engraved on it.
SECTION 7. The heading to Section 81.0521, Natural
Resources Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 81.0521. FEE FOR APPLICATION FOR EXCEPTION TO
[RAILROAD] COMMISSION RULE.
SECTION 8. Section 52.092(c), Election Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(c) Statewide offices of the state government shall be
listed in the following order:
(1) governor;
(2) lieutenant governor;
(3) attorney general;
(4) comptroller of public accounts;
(5) commissioner of the General Land Office;
(6) commissioner of agriculture;
(7) oil & gas [railroad] commissioner;
(8) chief justice, supreme court;
(9) justice, supreme court;
(10) presiding judge, court of criminal appeals;
(11) judge, court of criminal appeals.
SECTION 9. On the effective date of this Act, the name of
the Railroad Commission of Texas is changed to the Texas Oil & Gas
Commission. The change of the agency's name does not affect:
(1) the agency's powers, duties, rights, or
obligations;
(2) the agency's personnel, equipment, data,
documents, facilities, contracts, items, other property,
appropriations, rules, or decisions;
(3) a proceeding of or involving the agency under the
name of the Railroad Commission of Texas; or
(4) the terms of the chairman or other members of the
governing body of the agency.
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.