| 1 | 1 | | 87R12265 CXP-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Raymond H.B. No. 4239 |
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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 the organization and duties of the Public Utility |
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| 8 | 8 | | Commission of Texas. |
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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. Section 12.051(c), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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| 11 | 11 | | read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | (c) Commissioners serve staggered, two-year [six-year] |
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| 13 | 13 | | terms. |
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| 14 | 14 | | SECTION 2. Section 12.053(a), Utilities Code, is amended to |
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| 15 | 15 | | read as follows: |
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| 16 | 16 | | (a) To be eligible for appointment, a commissioner must: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) be a qualified voter; |
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| 18 | 18 | | (2) be a citizen of the United States; |
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| 19 | 19 | | (3) be a resident of this state; |
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| 20 | 20 | | (4) be a competent and experienced administrator; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (5) [(4)] be well informed and qualified in the field |
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| 22 | 22 | | of public utilities and utility regulation; and |
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| 23 | 23 | | (6) [(5)] have at least five years of experience in |
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| 24 | 24 | | the administration of business or government or as a practicing |
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| 25 | 25 | | attorney or certified public accountant. |
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| 26 | 26 | | SECTION 3. Section 12.203, Utilities Code, is amended to |
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| 27 | 27 | | read as follows: |
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| 28 | 28 | | Sec. 12.203. ANNUAL [BIENNIAL] REPORT. Not later than |
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| 29 | 29 | | January 15 of each [odd-numbered] year, the commission shall |
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| 30 | 30 | | prepare a written report that includes suggestions regarding |
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| 31 | 31 | | modification and improvement of the commission's statutory |
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| 32 | 32 | | authority and for the improvement of utility regulation in general |
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| 33 | 33 | | that the commission considers appropriate for protecting and |
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| 34 | 34 | | furthering the interest of the public. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 4. The governor shall promptly appoint three |
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| 36 | 36 | | commissioners to the Public Utility Commission of Texas in |
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| 37 | 37 | | accordance with Section 12.051, Utilities Code, as amended by this |
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| 38 | 38 | | Act. Notwithstanding Section 12.051(c), Utilities Code, in making |
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| 39 | 39 | | the initial appointments under that section, the governor shall |
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| 40 | 40 | | designate one commissioner to a term expiring September 1, 2022, |
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| 41 | 41 | | and two commissioners to a term expiring September 1, 2023. A |
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| 42 | 42 | | person who is serving as a commissioner of the Public Utility |
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| 43 | 43 | | Commission of Texas immediately before the effective date of this |
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| 44 | 44 | | Act may continue to serve until the person's successor is appointed |
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| 45 | 45 | | and qualifies to serve. |
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| 46 | 46 | | SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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