Bill Text: TX HB867 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to written disclosure of gas pipeline leaks to gas distribution customers; clarifying changes to related administrative penalties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-25 - Referred to Energy Resources [HB867 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB867-Introduced.html
By: Anchia | H.B. No. 867 |
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relating to written disclosure of gas pipeline leaks to gas | ||
distribution customers; clarifying changes to related | ||
administrative penalties. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Sections 121.206(a) and (d), Utilities Code, are | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a) The railroad commission may assess an administrative | ||
penalty against a person who violates Section 121.201 or a safety | ||
standard or other rule prescribed or adopted under this subchapter | ||
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(d) The railroad commission by rule shall adopt guidelines | ||
to be used in determining the amount of a penalty under this | ||
subchapter. The guidelines shall include a penalty calculation | ||
worksheet that specifies the typical penalty for certain | ||
violations, circumstances justifying enhancement of a penalty and | ||
the amount of the enhancement, and circumstances justifying a | ||
reduction in a penalty and the amount of the reduction. The | ||
guidelines shall take into account: | ||
(1) the person's history of previous violations of | ||
Section 121.201 or a safety standard or other rule prescribed or | ||
adopted under this subchapter [ |
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of previous violations; | ||
(2) the seriousness of the violation and of any | ||
pollution resulting from the violation; | ||
(3) any hazard to the health or safety of the public; | ||
(4) the degree of culpability; | ||
(5) the demonstrated good faith of the person charged; | ||
and | ||
(6) any other factor the commission considers | ||
relevant. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter E, Chapter 121, Utilities Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 121.217 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 121.217. WRITTEN NOTICE OF LEAK REQUIRED. (a) The | ||
railroad commission by rule shall require a distribution gas | ||
pipeline facility operator to mail written notice of a leak not | ||
later than 72 hours after the leak is discovered to each customer | ||
whose billed property is located less than one-quarter mile from | ||
where the leak occurred. | ||
(b) The written notice must be printed in both English and | ||
Spanish. | ||
SECTION 3. The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt the | ||
rules required by Section 121.217, Utilities Code, as added by this | ||
Act, not later than December 31, 2019. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |