| 1 | 1 | | 86R11892 GRM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Taylor S.B. No. 1435 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to notice and public hearing requirements relating to a |
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| 8 | 8 | | major modification of an existing transmission line. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 37, Utilities Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 37.0515 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 37.0515. NOTICE AND HEARING REQUIRED BEFORE MAJOR |
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| 13 | 13 | | MODIFICATION OF EXISTING TRANSMISSION LINE. (a) In this section, |
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| 14 | 14 | | "major modification" includes: |
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| 15 | 15 | | (1) the rebuilding, replacement, or respacing of a |
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| 16 | 16 | | structure along the route of an existing transmission line; |
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| 17 | 17 | | (2) the upgrading of an existing transmission line to |
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| 18 | 18 | | a higher voltage; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | (3) any other activity performed on an existing |
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| 20 | 20 | | transmission line that the commission by rule determines is a major |
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| 21 | 21 | | modification. |
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| 22 | 22 | | (b) This section applies only to an activity for which: |
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| 23 | 23 | | (1) a certificate of convenience and necessity is not |
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| 24 | 24 | | required; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (2) the acquisition of an additional right-of-way is |
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| 26 | 26 | | not required. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (c) Not later than the 45th day before the date an electric |
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| 28 | 28 | | utility or other person begins a major modification of an existing |
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| 29 | 29 | | transmission line, the utility or other person shall: |
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| 30 | 30 | | (1) give to the owners of any directly affected land |
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| 31 | 31 | | notice of the planned major modification; and |
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| 32 | 32 | | (2) hold at least one public meeting at a location in |
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| 33 | 33 | | the vicinity of the planned major modification. |
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| 34 | 34 | | (d) The notice provided under Subsection (c)(1) must |
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| 35 | 35 | | include: |
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| 36 | 36 | | (1) a description of the planned major modification, |
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| 37 | 37 | | including whether new structures will be built and the construction |
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| 38 | 38 | | methods that will be used; |
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| 39 | 39 | | (2) the planned timeline for starting and completing |
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| 40 | 40 | | the major modification; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (3) the need for the major modification; and |
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| 42 | 42 | | (4) the date and location of the public meeting |
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| 43 | 43 | | required by Subsection (c)(2). |
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| 44 | 44 | | SECTION 2. This Act applies only to a modification of an |
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| 45 | 45 | | existing transmission line that begins on or after the effective |
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| 46 | 46 | | date of this Act. A modification that begins before that date is |
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| 47 | 47 | | governed by the law in effect on the date the modification began, |
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| 48 | 48 | | and that law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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| 49 | 49 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |
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