Bill Text: TX HB2819 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Enrolled

Texas House Bill 2819 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the TexNet seismic monitoring program.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2017-06-15 - Effective on 9/1/17 [HB2819 Detail]

Download: Texas-2017-HB2819-Enrolled.html



	H.B. No. 2819




	AN ACT
	relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the
	TexNet seismic monitoring program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1. Chapter 67, Education Code, is amended by adding
	Subchapter E to read as follows:
	SUBCHAPTER E. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
	Sec. 67.71. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "bureau" means
	The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.
	Sec. 67.72. TEXNET TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In
	this section, "program" means the TexNet seismic monitoring program
	administered by the bureau.
	(b) The TexNet Technical Advisory Committee is established
	as an advisory committee within the bureau.
	(c) The advisory committee consists of nine members
	appointed by the governor, including:
	(1) one representative of the Railroad Commission of
	Texas who specializes in seismology, geomechanical engineering,
	reservoir engineering, or another related field recommended to the
	governor by the executive director of the Railroad Commission of
	Texas; and
	(2) at least three representatives from the oil and
	gas industry, not to include the representative appointed under
	Subdivision (1).
	(d) The governor shall designate a member of the advisory
	committee as the chair of the advisory committee to serve in that
	capacity at the pleasure of the governor.
	(e) A person affiliated with the bureau or under contract
	for services with the bureau may not serve as a voting member of the
	advisory committee.
	(f) The director of the bureau shall serve, ex officio, as a
	nonvoting member of the advisory committee.
	(g) The advisory committee shall:
	(1) in coordination with the bureau, develop
	recommendations for a program of work to assist the program and any
	research efforts affiliated with the program in accomplishing the
	goals of the program, including recommendations regarding:
	(A) the acquisition and deployment of equipment;
	(B) contracting with vendors;
	(C) determining the scope of research programs
	associated with the program; and
	(D) determining the scope of any use of funds
	appropriated by the legislature for the program or associated
	research;
	(2) review and approve or reject expenditures made in
	connection with the program;
	(3) prepare and approve an annual budget for the use of
	any funds appropriated for the program by the legislature;
	(4) provide oversight and input on the acquisition,
	deployment, and operation of new and existing program equipment;
	(5) ensure that there is a monthly transmission of the
	data collected by seismic equipment operated under the program to
	the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology database;
	and
	(6) solicit from the bureau quarterly updates
	regarding the progress of the program, expenditures made in
	connection with the program, and any other information related to
	the program that the advisory committee finds necessary.
	(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
	the advisory committee shall prepare and submit to the governor,
	the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
	representatives a report that includes:
	(1) a review of the use of any funds appropriated for
	the program by the legislature;
	(2) a complete listing and accounting of all research
	funded through the program, including:
	(A) a list of contractors employed under the
	program;
	(B) an itemized budget for each program element;
	and
	(C) a list of the geographic coverage of the
	program; and
	(3) recommendations related to the ongoing operations
	and requirements of the program.
	(i) This section expires September 1, 2019.
	SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.


	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 2819 was passed by the House on May 4,
	2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
	voting.

	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House


	I certify that H.B. No. 2819 was passed by the Senate on May
	24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.

	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED: _____________________
	Date

	_____________________
	Governor