Bill Text: TX HB1788 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced

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

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 6-2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-03-27 - Left pending in committee [HB1788 Detail]

Download: Texas-2013-HB1788-Introduced.html

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By: Dale H.B. No. 1788

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the name 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 ENERGY [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 Energy [Railroad]
Commission [of Texas].
(2) "Commissioner" means any member of the commission
[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 ENERGY COMMISSION. (a) The Railroad
Commission of Texas is renamed the Texas Energy Commission.
(b) A reference in law to:
(1) the Railroad Commission of Texas means the Texas
Energy Commission; and
(2) a railroad commissioner or a member of the
Railroad Commission of Texas means a member of the Texas Energy
Commission.
SECTION 4. Section 81.01001, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 81.01001. SUNSET PROVISION. The Texas Energy
[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, 2013.
SECTION 5. 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 Energy [Railroad] Commission [of
Texas]."
(b) The seal of the commission contains a star of five
points with the words "Texas Energy [Railroad] Commission [of
Texas]" engraved on it.
SECTION 6. 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 7. 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) energy [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 8. (a) On the effective date of this Act:
(1) the name of the Railroad Commission of Texas is
changed to the Texas Energy Commission, and all powers, duties,
rights, and obligations of the Railroad Commission of Texas are the
powers, duties, rights, and obligations of the Texas Energy
Commission;
(2) a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas is a
member of the Texas Energy Commission;
(3) the chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas
is the chairman of the Texas Energy Commission; and
(4) any appropriation to the Railroad Commission of
Texas is an appropriation to the Texas Energy Commission.
(b) On the effective date of this Act:
(1) a reference in law to the Railroad Commission of
Texas is a reference to the Texas Energy Commission; and
(2) a reference in law to a railroad commissioner or a
member of the Railroad Commission of Texas is a reference to a
member of the Texas Energy Commission.
(c) The Texas Energy Commission is the successor to the
Railroad Commission of Texas in all respects. All personnel,
equipment, data, documents, facilities, contracts, items, other
property, rules, decisions, and proceedings of or involving the
Railroad Commission of Texas are unaffected by the change in the
name of the agency.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect on the date on which the
constitutional amendment proposed by the 83rd Legislature, Regular
Session, 2013, to rename the Railroad Commission of Texas as the
Texas Energy Commission takes effect
. If that amendment is not
approved by the voters, this Act has no effect.