Bill Text: TX HB3181 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to preparation for and response to weather emergencies that affect certain natural gas facilities; increasing the amount of civil and administrative penalties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-15 - Referred to Energy Resources [HB3181 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HB3181-Introduced.html
88R5949 ANG-D | ||
By: Rosenthal | H.B. No. 3181 |
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relating to preparation for and response to weather emergencies | ||
that affect certain natural gas facilities; increasing the amount | ||
of civil and administrative penalties. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 86.044(c), Natural Resources Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(c) The commission by rule shall require a gas supply chain | ||
facility operator to implement measures to prepare to operate | ||
during a weather emergency. In adopting the rules, the commission | ||
shall take into consideration weather predictions produced by the | ||
office of the state climatologist. The rules must include a process | ||
that allows the commission to require a gas supply chain facility | ||
operator to implement measures recommended by the commission in a | ||
weather emergency preparedness report under Section 186.008(b)(4), | ||
Utilities Code. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 86.222(d), Natural Resources Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(d) The [ |
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Subsection (c) must [ |
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by a penalty of, after taking into account the factors described by | ||
Subsection (c): | ||
(1) at least $100 and not more than $1,000 for the | ||
first violation; | ||
(2) at least $1,000 and not more than $50,000 for the | ||
second violation; and | ||
(3) at least $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000 for | ||
the third violation and each subsequent violation [ |
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SECTION 3. Section 121.2015(a-1), Utilities Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) In adopting rules under Subsection (a)(3), the | ||
railroad commission shall take into consideration weather | ||
predictions produced by the office of the state climatologist. The | ||
rules must include a process that allows the railroad commission to | ||
require a gas pipeline facility operator to implement measures | ||
recommended by the railroad commission in a weather emergency | ||
preparedness report under Section 186.008(b)(4), Utilities Code. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 121.206(e), Utilities Code, is amended | ||
to read as follows: | ||
(e) The guidelines adopted under Subsection (d) must | ||
provide that a violation of a rule adopted under Section | ||
121.2015(a)(3) is punishable by a penalty of, after taking into | ||
account the factors described by Subsection (d): | ||
(1) at least $100 and not more than $1,000 for the | ||
first violation; | ||
(2) at least $1,000 and not more than $50,000 for the | ||
second violation; and | ||
(3) at least $50,000 and not more than $1,000,000 for | ||
the third violation and each subsequent violation [ |
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SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act to Section | ||
86.222, Natural Resources Code, and Section 121.206, Utilities | ||
Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a violation that occurs | ||
on or after the effective date of the rules adopted by the Railroad | ||
Commission of Texas under Section 86.222, Natural Resources Code, | ||
or Section 121.206, Utilities Code, as amended by this Act. A | ||
violation that occurs before the effective date of the rules | ||
adopted by the Railroad Commission of Texas under Section 86.222, | ||
Natural Resources Code, or Section 121.206, Utilities Code, as | ||
amended by this Act, is governed by the law in effect on the date the | ||
violation occurred, and that law is continued in effect for that | ||
purpose. | ||
SECTION 6. 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, 2023. |