Bill Text: TX HB14 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Engrossed

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping Committee.

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2021-05-13 - Left pending in committee [HB14 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB14-Engrossed.html

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87R17917 JXC-F
By: Goldman, Herrero, Geren, Anchia, H.B. No. 14
Craddick, et al.

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the Texas Electricity Supply Chain
Security and Mapping Committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 38, Utilities Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter F to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER F. TEXAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY AND MAPPING
COMMITTEE
Sec. 38.201. TEXAS ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY AND
MAPPING COMMITTEE. (a) In this subchapter:
(1) "Electricity supply chain" means:
(A) facilities and methods used for producing,
processing, or transporting natural gas for delivery to electric
generation facilities; and
(B) critical infrastructure necessary to
maintain electricity service.
(2) "Natural gas delivery system" means:
(A) facilities and methods used for producing,
processing, or transporting natural gas for delivery to
distribution gas pipeline facilities; and
(B) critical infrastructure necessary to
maintain natural gas service.
(b) The Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping
Committee is established to:
(1) map this state's electricity supply chain and
natural gas delivery system;
(2) identify critical infrastructure sources in the
electricity supply chain and natural gas delivery system;
(3) establish best practices to prepare facilities
that provide electric and natural gas service to maintain service
in an extreme weather event and recommend oversight and compliance
standards for those facilities; and
(4) designate priority service needs to prepare for,
respond to, and recover from an extreme weather event.
(c) The committee is composed of:
(1) the executive director of the commission;
(2) the executive director of the Railroad Commission
of Texas;
(3) the president and the chief executive officer of
the independent organization certified under Section 39.151 for the
ERCOT power region; and
(4) the chief of the Texas Division of Emergency
Management.
(d) Each member of the committee may designate a personal
representative from the member's organization to represent the
member on the committee. A member is responsible for the acts and
omissions of the designee related to the designee's representation
on the committee.
(e) The executive director of the commission serves as the
chair of the committee. The executive director of the Railroad
Commission of Texas serves as vice chair of the committee.
Sec. 38.202. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The committee shall meet
at least once each calendar quarter at a time determined by the
committee and at the call of the chair.
(b) A member who is an ex officio member from a state agency
shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses in carrying
out committee responsibilities from money appropriated for that
purpose in the agency's budget. Other members of the committee may
receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses in carrying
out committee responsibilities from money appropriated for that
purpose.
(c) The commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and
the Texas Division of Emergency Management shall provide staff as
necessary to assist the committee in carrying out the committee's
duties and responsibilities.
(d) The independent organization certified under Section
39.151 for the ERCOT power region shall provide staff as necessary
to assist the committee in carrying out the committee's duties and
responsibilities.
(e) Except as otherwise provided by this subchapter, the
committee is subject to Chapters 2001, 551, and 552, Government
Code.
Sec. 38.203. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMITTEE. (a) The
committee shall:
(1) map the state's electricity supply chain in order
to designate priority electricity service needs during extreme
weather events;
(2) identify and designate the sources in the
electricity supply chain necessary to operate critical
infrastructure, as defined by Section 421.001, Government Code;
(3) develop a communication system between critical
infrastructure sources, the commission, and the independent
organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
region to ensure that electricity and natural gas supplies are
prioritized to those sources during an extreme weather event; and
(4) establish best practices to prepare facilities
that provide electric and natural gas service to maintain service
in an extreme weather event and recommend oversight and compliance
standards for those facilities.
(b) The commission shall:
(1) create and maintain a database identifying
critical infrastructure sources with priority electricity needs to
be used during an extreme weather event; and
(2) update the database at least once each year.
(c) The information maintained in the database is
confidential under Section 418.181, Government Code, and not
subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
Sec. 38.204. ELECTRIC SUPPLY MAPPING REPORT. (a) Not later
than January 1, 2022, the committee shall submit a report to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the legislature on the activities and findings
of the committee. The report must:
(1) provide an overview of the committee's findings
regarding mapping the electricity supply chain and identifying
sources necessary to operate critical infrastructure;
(2) recommend a clear and thorough communication
system for the commission, the Railroad Commission of Texas, the
Texas Division of Emergency Management, and the independent
organization certified under Section 39.151 for the ERCOT power
region and critical infrastructure sources in this state to ensure
that electricity supply is prioritized to those sources during
extreme weather events; and
(3) include a list of the established best practices
and recommended oversight and compliance standards adopted under
Section 38.203(a)(4).
(b) The report is public information except for portions
considered confidential under Chapter 552, Government Code, or
other state or federal law.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2021.