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

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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-Introduced.html

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85R15027 TYPED
By: Darby H.B. No. 2819

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing an Advisory Committee for the TexNet
Monitoring Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Add new Chapter 157 to the Education Code to read
as follows:
CHAPTER 157. TexNet Seismic Monitoring Advisory Committee
Sec. 157.001 DEFINITION. In this Chapter, the "TexNet
Seismic Monitoring Program" means the program administered by the
Texas Bureau of Economic Geology which oversees an array of
equipment for a seismic network to study seismic events in Texas.
Sec. 157.002 TexNet Advisory Committee.
(1) For as long as the TexNet Seismic Monitoring
Program receives funds from the State of Texas, there shall be a
TexNet Advisory Committee composed of ten members, three to be
appointed by the Governor, three to be appointed by the Lieutenant
Governor, three to be appointed by the Speaker of the House, and one
to be an employee of the Texas Railroad Commission who specializes
in seismology, geomechanical engineering, reservoir engineering or
another related field and is appointed by the Executive Director of
the Texas Railroad Commission. At least one appointment each from
the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker must be from the oil
and gas industry. No person affiliated with or under contract for
services under this program with the Bureau of Economic Geology may
serve as a voting member of the Advisory Committee.
(2) The TexNet Economic Advisory Committee shall:
(a) Develop in consultation with Bureau of Economic Geology
staff a program of work for the TexNet program and any affiliated
research efforts to include acquisition and deployment of
equipment, contracting with vendors, determine scope of research
program and any other use of funds appropriated by the Legislature
for the TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program and any associated
research.
(b) Approve an annual budget for the use funds appropriated
by the Legislature to the TexNet Seismic Monitoring Program;
(c) provide oversight and input on the
acquisition,deployment and operation of new and existing Program
equipment;
(d) Prepare a biennial report to be delivered the House
Energy Committee and the Senate Natural Resources and Economic
Development Committees on or before December 1 of even numbered
years regarding the use of the funds, a complete listing and
accounting of all research funded through the program including a
listing of contractors, itemized budget for each program element,
complete listing of geographic coverage of the Program, important
research undertaken and any findings or progress of the research
for the Program, and recommendations related to the ongoing
operations and requirements of the Program;
(e) Ensure that there is a monthly transmission of the data
collected by the seismic equipment to the Incorporated Research
Institutes for Seismology database; and
(f) Receive quarterly updates from the Bureau of Economic
Geology regarding the progress of the program, expenditures made in
connection with the Program as approved by the TexNet Advisory
Committee, and any other information related to the program
requested of the Bureau of Economic Geology.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.