86R11647 JXC-D
By: Zwiener H.B. No. 4060
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a program administered by the Railroad Commission of
Texas to provide grants to promote pipeline emergency preparedness;
authorizing a fee.
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 81.0715 to read as follows:
Sec. 81.0715. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FEES AND GRANTS. (a)
The commission by rule shall establish pipeline emergency
preparedness fees to be assessed for permits or registrations for
pipelines under the jurisdiction of the commission's pipeline
safety and regulatory program.
(b) Fees collected under this section shall be deposited to
the credit of a dedicated account in the general revenue fund.
Money in the account may be appropriated only for the purposes of
the grant program established by this section and associated
administrative expenses.
(c) The commission shall establish a grant program to
provide funding for emergency preparedness expenses, such as the
creation of evacuation plans for pipeline-related emergencies,
such as spills or leaks.
(d) The commission may provide a grant under this section
only to a political subdivision that:
(1) provides emergency services to respond to
pipeline-related emergencies; and
(2) is located within five miles of a pipeline.
(e) The commission may establish the fees in an amount
necessary to provide a reasonable amount of funding for the grant
program established by this section, based on emergency
preparedness expenses typically required by political subdivisions
for pipeline-related emergencies.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.