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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the posting by the Railroad Commission of Texas on its |
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Internet website of certain enforcement information. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 81.071 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.071. ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION. (a) The commission |
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shall post on the commission's Internet website: |
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(1) comprehensive information regarding the |
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commission's enforcement of this title and rules, orders, licenses, |
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permits, and certificates issued under this title, including |
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information regarding: |
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(A) inspection and enforcement activity; |
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(B) violations; and |
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(C) the amount of penalties finally assessed; |
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(2) information evidencing quarterly trends regarding |
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enforcement activity by the commission, including: |
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(A) the number of inspections conducted; |
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(B) the number of violations, categorized |
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according to the degree of severity of the violation and the |
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statute, rule, order, license, permit, or certificate violated, for |
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which enforcement action has been taken; |
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(C) the number of repeat violations determined to |
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have been committed; and |
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(D) the number of violations referred to the |
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attorney general for enforcement; and |
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(3) an analysis of annual trends regarding enforcement |
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activity by the commission. |
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(b) Information required to be posted under this section |
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must be: |
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(1) in a searchable format; |
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(2) organized by county, by operator or other entity, |
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and by well, if applicable; and |
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(3) capable of being downloaded in bulk. |
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SECTION 2. The Railroad Commission of Texas shall comply |
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with Section 81.071(b), Natural Resources Code, as added by this |
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Act, not later than January 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 3. The Railroad Commission of Texas shall implement |
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Section 81.071, Natural Resources Code, as added by this Act, using |
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only money that is appropriated to the commission by the General |
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Appropriations Act for the state fiscal biennium beginning |
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September 1, 2017, for public information and services and that is |
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available to be spent for the publication on the commission's |
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Internet website of information about the commission's inspection |
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and enforcement activities. If the commission determines that it |
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is not required to implement that statute because the legislature |
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has not appropriated money available for that purpose, the |
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commission shall notify the Legislative Budget Board of that |
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determination. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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