H.B. No. 2819
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the
TexNet seismic monitoring program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 67, Education Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY
Sec. 67.71. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "bureau" means
The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology.
Sec. 67.72. TEXNET TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In
this section, "program" means the TexNet seismic monitoring program
administered by the bureau.
(b) The TexNet Technical Advisory Committee is established
as an advisory committee within the bureau.
(c) The advisory committee consists of nine members
appointed by the governor, including:
(1) one representative of the Railroad Commission of
Texas who specializes in seismology, geomechanical engineering,
reservoir engineering, or another related field recommended to the
governor by the executive director of the Railroad Commission of
Texas; and
(2) at least three representatives from the oil and
gas industry, not to include the representative appointed under
Subdivision (1).
(d) The governor shall designate a member of the advisory
committee as the chair of the advisory committee to serve in that
capacity at the pleasure of the governor.
(e) A person affiliated with the bureau or under contract
for services with the bureau may not serve as a voting member of the
advisory committee.
(f) The director of the bureau shall serve, ex officio, as a
nonvoting member of the advisory committee.
(g) The advisory committee shall:
(1) in coordination with the bureau, develop
recommendations for a program of work to assist the program and any
research efforts affiliated with the program in accomplishing the
goals of the program, including recommendations regarding:
(A) the acquisition and deployment of equipment;
(B) contracting with vendors;
(C) determining the scope of research programs
associated with the program; and
(D) determining the scope of any use of funds
appropriated by the legislature for the program or associated
research;
(2) review and approve or reject expenditures made in
connection with the program;
(3) prepare and approve an annual budget for the use of
any funds appropriated for the program by the legislature;
(4) provide oversight and input on the acquisition,
deployment, and operation of new and existing program equipment;
(5) ensure that there is a monthly transmission of the
data collected by seismic equipment operated under the program to
the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology database;
and
(6) solicit from the bureau quarterly updates
regarding the progress of the program, expenditures made in
connection with the program, and any other information related to
the program that the advisory committee finds necessary.
(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year,
the advisory committee shall prepare and submit to the governor,
the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of
representatives a report that includes:
(1) a review of the use of any funds appropriated for
the program by the legislature;
(2) a complete listing and accounting of all research
funded through the program, including:
(A) a list of contractors employed under the
program;
(B) an itemized budget for each program element;
and
(C) a list of the geographic coverage of the
program; and
(3) recommendations related to the ongoing operations
and requirements of the program.
(i) This section expires September 1, 2019.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2819 was passed by the House on May 4,
2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 2819 was passed by the Senate on May
24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor