Bill Text: TX HB868 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to gas pipeline operator disclosure of the location of pipeline leaks; clarifying changes to related administrative penalties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-08 - Left pending in committee [HB868 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB868-Introduced.html
| 86R999 GRM-D | ||
| By: Anchia | H.B. No. 868 | |
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| relating to gas pipeline operator disclosure of the location of | ||
| pipeline leaks; 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 121.218 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 121.218. DISCLOSURE OF LEAK LOCATIONS. The railroad | ||
| commission by rule shall require a distribution gas pipeline | ||
| facility operator to: | ||
| (1) report to the commission gas leaks from the | ||
| operator's pipeline facilities and any other information the | ||
| commission requires by rule; and | ||
| (2) publish on the operator's public Internet website | ||
| the location of each leak reported under Subdivision (1), including | ||
| the exact street address and the location of each leak on a map. | ||
| SECTION 3. The Railroad Commission of Texas shall adopt the | ||
| rules required by Section 121.218, Utilities Code, as added by this | ||
| Act, not later than December 31, 2019. | ||
| SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. | ||
