| 1 | 1 | | 86R13205 JAM-D |
|---|
| 2 | 2 | | By: Herrero H.B. No. 4380 |
|---|
| 3 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 7 | | relating to the creation of the Environmental Task Force Advisory |
|---|
| 8 | 8 | | Committee. |
|---|
| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. (a) In this section: |
|---|
| 11 | 11 | | (1) "Advisory committee" means the Environmental Task |
|---|
| 12 | 12 | | Force Advisory Committee. |
|---|
| 13 | 13 | | (2) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of |
|---|
| 14 | 14 | | Texas. |
|---|
| 15 | 15 | | (b) The Environmental Task Force Advisory Committee is |
|---|
| 16 | 16 | | composed of the following nine members appointed by the commission: |
|---|
| 17 | 17 | | (1) seven representatives of the oil and gas industry, |
|---|
| 18 | 18 | | including: |
|---|
| 19 | 19 | | (A) one owner or operator of a facility that |
|---|
| 20 | 20 | | handles oil and gas waste; and |
|---|
| 21 | 21 | | (B) one representative of producers of oil and |
|---|
| 22 | 22 | | gas; |
|---|
| 23 | 23 | | (2) an environmental engineer with experience related |
|---|
| 24 | 24 | | to environmental compliance; and |
|---|
| 25 | 25 | | (3) an attorney with experience in the implementation |
|---|
| 26 | 26 | | of environmental laws. |
|---|
| 27 | 27 | | (c) Members of the advisory committee hold office for terms |
|---|
| 28 | 28 | | of two years expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year. A |
|---|
| 29 | 29 | | member is ineligible to serve more than two consecutive full terms. |
|---|
| 30 | 30 | | (d) The advisory committee shall select from its membership |
|---|
| 31 | 31 | | a presiding officer and a secretary to serve for one-year terms. |
|---|
| 32 | 32 | | (e) The advisory committee shall meet at least quarterly. |
|---|
| 33 | 33 | | (f) The advisory committee may hold public hearings, formal |
|---|
| 34 | 34 | | meetings, or work sessions. The advisory committee may not take |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | formal action at a public hearing, formal meeting, or work session |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | unless a quorum of the committee is present. |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | (g) A member of the advisory committee is not entitled to |
|---|
| 38 | 38 | | receive compensation for service on the committee or reimbursement |
|---|
| 39 | 39 | | for expenses incurred in the performance of official duties as a |
|---|
| 40 | 40 | | member of the committee. |
|---|
| 41 | 41 | | (h) The advisory committee shall: |
|---|
| 42 | 42 | | (1) review the overall operation and structure of the |
|---|
| 43 | 43 | | commission's environmental regulatory functions and rules adopted |
|---|
| 44 | 44 | | by the commission to implement and enforce the commission's |
|---|
| 45 | 45 | | environmental regulatory functions, including rules related to: |
|---|
| 46 | 46 | | (A) any memorandum of understanding between the |
|---|
| 47 | 47 | | commission and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality |
|---|
| 48 | 48 | | relating to the commission's environmental regulatory functions; |
|---|
| 49 | 49 | | and |
|---|
| 50 | 50 | | (B) the handling and disposal of oil and gas |
|---|
| 51 | 51 | | waste; and |
|---|
| 52 | 52 | | (2) provide recommendations to the commission for |
|---|
| 53 | 53 | | proposed changes to improve and add clarity to rules related to the |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | commission's environmental regulatory functions. |
|---|
| 55 | 55 | | (i) The advisory committee may adopt rules, procedures, and |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | policies as needed to administer this section and implement its |
|---|
| 57 | 57 | | responsibilities. |
|---|
| 58 | 58 | | (j) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee. |
|---|
| 60 | 60 | | (k) This section expires and the advisory committee is |
|---|
| 61 | 61 | | dissolved on September 1, 2023. |
|---|
| 62 | 62 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
|---|