87R10872 CXP-D
By: Darby H.B. No. 3025
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the membership and meetings of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Sections 12.051(a) and (b), Utilities Code, are
amended to read as follows:
(a) The commission is composed of:
(1) three commissioners appointed by the governor with
the advice and consent of the senate;
(2) one commissioner appointed by the governor from a
list of names submitted by the speaker of the house of
representatives and with the advice and consent of the senate; and
(3) one commissioner appointed by the lieutenant
governor with the advice and consent of the senate.
(b) An appointment to the commission shall be made without
regard to the race, color, disability, sex, religion, age, or
national origin of the appointee. The appointments shall be made so
that at least one commissioner is designated to represent each of
the north, south, west, and Houston load zones of the ERCOT power
region. One commissioner may serve without having a designated
zone.
SECTION 2. Section 12.055, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 12.055. PROHIBITION ON SEEKING ANOTHER OFFICE. A
person may not seek nomination or election to another civil office
of this state or of the United States while serving as a
commissioner. If a commissioner files for nomination or election
to another civil office of this state or of the United States, the
person's office as commissioner immediately becomes vacant, and the
governor or lieutenant governor, as applicable, shall appoint a
successor in accordance with Section 12.051 and, if necessary,
shall designate the zone to be represented by the commissioner in
accordance with Subsection (b) of that section.
SECTION 3. Section 12.058, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 12.058. MEETINGS. The commission shall hold meetings
at its office and at other convenient places in this state on the
first and third Thursday of every month [as expedient and
necessary] for the proper performance of the commission's duties.
SECTION 4. (a) The governor and the lieutenant governor
each shall promptly appoint a commissioner to the Public Utility
Commission of Texas in accordance with Sections 12.051(a)(2) and
(3), Utilities Code, as added by this Act. The term of the
commissioner appointed by the lieutenant governor expires
September 1, 2025, and the term of the commissioner appointed by the
governor expires September 1, 2027. The appointments made under
this section must designate the appointed commissioner as
representing a zone described by Section 12.051(b), Utilities Code,
as amended by this Act.
(b) Following the appointments made under Subsection (a) of
this section, the governor shall designate two of the other three
commissioners of the Public Utility Commission of Texas as a
commissioner representing one of the zones described by Section
12.051(b), Utilities Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.