81R7172 MTB-D
By: Farabee H.B. No. 1231
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to providing that the Railroad Commission of Texas is
governed by a single railroad commissioner.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Article 6444, Revised Statutes, is amended to
read as follows:
Art. 6444. TERMS DEFINED; REFERENCES IN LAW. (a) The term
"Commission" as used in this title means the Railroad Commission of
Texas, and the term "commissioner" ["Commissioners"] means the
railroad commissioner [members of the Railroad Commission of
Texas].
(b) In this title, a reference to the commissioners or to
the members of the Commission is considered to be a reference to the
railroad commissioner. In any state statute, a reference to the
railroad commissioners or to the members of the Railroad Commission
of Texas is considered to be a reference to the railroad
commissioner.
SECTION 2. Article 6447, Revised Statutes, is amended to
read as follows:
Art. 6447. THE COMMISSIONER [COMMISSION]. (a)
Election.--The Railroad Commission of Texas is governed by the
railroad commissioner, who shall be [composed of three members, one
of whom shall be] elected [biennially] at a [each] general election
for a term of four [six] years.
(b) Qualifications.--The commissioner [members] shall be a
resident citizen [citizens] of this State, and a qualified voter
[voters] under the Constitution and laws, and not less than
twenty-five years of age. The commissioner is [members are]
subject to the provisions of Chapter 572, Government Code, that
apply to elected officers, including the requirements governing
personal financial statements, standards of conduct, and conflicts
of interest.
(c) Oath, etc.--Before entering upon the duties of [his]
office, the [each] commissioner shall take and subscribe to the
official oath and shall in addition thereto swear that the
commissioner [he] will to the best of the commissioner's [his]
ability faithfully and justly execute and enforce the provisions of
this title and all laws of this State under the jurisdiction of the
Commission [concerning railroads], which oath shall be filed with
the Secretary of State.
(d) Seal [Organization].--The commissioner [commissioners
shall elect one of their number chairman. They may make all rules
necessary for their government and proceedings. They] shall be
known [collectively] as the "railroad commissioner" ["Railroad
Commission of Texas,"] and shall have a seal, a star of five points
with the words "Railroad Commission of Texas" engraved thereon. The
commissioner [They] shall be furnished necessary furniture,
stationery, supplies and all necessary expenses, to be paid for on
the order of the Governor.
(e) Expenses.--The commissioner [Commissioners] shall
receive from the State [their] necessary traveling expenses while
traveling on the business of the Commission, which shall include
the cost only of transportation while traveling on business for the
Commission, upon an itemized statement thereof, sworn to by the
commissioner [party who incurred the expense, and approved by the
Commission]. Employees of the Commission are entitled to
reimbursement for expenses incurred in traveling on the business of
the Commission as provided by the General Appropriations Act.
[Sessions.--The Commission may hold its sessions at any place
in this State when deemed necessary.]
SECTION 3. Section 81.001(2), Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Commissioner" means [any member of] the railroad
commissioner [Railroad Commission of Texas].
SECTION 4. Subchapter A, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.002 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.002. REFERENCES IN LAW. A reference in law to the
chair or presiding officer of the Railroad Commission of Texas or to
a member of the Railroad Commission of Texas means the
commissioner.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2011, but only
if the constitutional amendment proposed by the 81st Legislature,
Regular Session, 2009, providing that the Railroad Commission of
Texas will be governed by a single elected railroad commissioner
instead of by an elected three-member commission, is approved by
the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this
Act has no effect.