By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 1975
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study of the economic cost of significant oil and gas
activity in rural areas of the state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 403, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subchapter R to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER R. STUDY OF ECONOMIC COST OF SIGNIFICANT OIL
AND GAS ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS.
Sec. 403.601. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Rural county" means a county with a population of
less than 50,000.
(2) "Significant oil and gas activity" means oil and
gas operations, including development, production, and waste
disposal, associated with a recognized oil and gas play that in
total is producing more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day or two
billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.
(3) "Rural area" means an area located in a rural
county, or contiguous with a rural county, where significant oil
and gas activity is occurring.
Sec. 403.602. STUDY OF ECONOMIC COST OF SIGNIFICANT OIL AND
GAS ACTIVITY IN RURAL AREAS. (a) The comptroller, in conjunction
with the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Department of
Transportation, the Texas Workforce Commission, the Texas
Education Agency, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board,
and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, shall conduct a
study on the economic cost of significant oil and gas activity in
rural areas of the state.
(b) In conducting the study, the comptroller shall:
(1) analyze the amount of local government and state
revenues generated by the activity;
(2) analyze the need for increased services or
infrastructure development related to the activity, including:
(i) state and county roads;
(ii) healthcare facilities and workforce;
(iii) housing;
(iv) police, fire, and emergency medical
services; and
(v) public and higher education.
(3) assess whether revenues generated by the activity
at the local level are adequate to address the needs analyzed in
subsection (b)(2);
(c) The comptroller shall submit a report on the study to
the legislature not later than December 1, 2016. The report must
include a summary of the information resulting from the study and
recommendations for changes in law or appropriations necessary to
address shortfalls in needed public services and infrastructure
development.
Sec. 403.603. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires
September 1, 2017.
SECTION 2. 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, 2015.