82R4759 SMH-D
By: Davis S.B. No. 1641
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the location for conducting certain hearings of the
Railroad Commission of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 81, Natural Resources
Code, is amended by adding Section 81.065 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.065. LOCATION FOR CONDUCTING CERTAIN HEARINGS. (a)
In this section, "urban hydrocarbon-producing area" means an area
consisting of the counties located wholly or partly above a
hydrocarbon-producing geological formation that underlies all or
part of two counties:
(1) that are adjacent to one another; and
(2) each of which has a population of more than 1.4
million.
(b) This section applies only to a hearing held by the
commission regarding:
(1) an application or other request to issue, renew,
reopen, transfer, amend, extend, withdraw, suspend, revoke,
terminate, or modify a permit, license, certificate, registration,
or other authorization or approval under this title pertaining to
an activity undertaken or to be undertaken in an urban
hydrocarbon-producing area; or
(2) a violation of a provision of this title or a rule,
order, permit, license, certificate, registration, or other
authorization or approval issued under this title occurring in an
urban hydrocarbon-producing area.
(c) The commission shall hold the hearing in a county
located in the urban hydrocarbon-producing area.
SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only
to an application or other request filed with the Railroad
Commission of Texas or a violation occurring on or after the
effective date of this Act. An application or other request filed
with the commission or a violation occurring before the effective
date of this Act is governed by the law as it existed immediately
before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.