| 4 | 7 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 8 | | |
|---|
| 6 | 9 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 7 | 10 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 8 | 11 | | relating to the establishment of a theft of petroleum products task |
|---|
| 9 | 12 | | force. |
|---|
| 10 | 13 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 11 | 14 | | SECTION 1. (a) In this Act: |
|---|
| 12 | 15 | | (1) "Commission" means the Railroad Commission of |
|---|
| 13 | 16 | | Texas. |
|---|
| 14 | 17 | | (2) "Theft of petroleum product" means conduct |
|---|
| 15 | 18 | | constituting an offense under Section 31.19, Penal Code. |
|---|
| 16 | 19 | | (b) The commission shall appoint a task force to study and |
|---|
| 17 | 20 | | make recommendations related to preventing the theft of petroleum |
|---|
| 18 | 21 | | products in this state. |
|---|
| 19 | 22 | | (c) The task force must include: |
|---|
| 20 | 23 | | (1) at least one representative from the oil and gas |
|---|
| 21 | 24 | | industry; |
|---|
| 22 | 25 | | (2) at least one representative from an energy trade |
|---|
| 23 | 26 | | association; and |
|---|
| 24 | 27 | | (3) representatives from local, state, and federal law |
|---|
| 25 | 28 | | enforcement agencies. |
|---|
| 26 | 29 | | (d) The commission shall designate a member of the task |
|---|
| 27 | 30 | | force as the presiding officer. |
|---|
| 28 | 31 | | (e) The task force shall meet at least quarterly at the call |
|---|
| 29 | 32 | | of the presiding officer. A task force meeting may be conducted |
|---|
| 30 | 33 | | virtually through the Internet. |
|---|
| 31 | 34 | | (f) The task force shall conduct an ongoing study of the |
|---|
| 32 | 35 | | theft of petroleum products in this state. In conducting the study, |
|---|
| 33 | 36 | | the task force shall: |
|---|
| 34 | 37 | | (1) review laws and regulations addressing the theft |
|---|
| 35 | 38 | | of petroleum products in other jurisdictions, including |
|---|
| 36 | 39 | | international political and economic organizations; |
|---|
| 37 | 40 | | (2) analyze: |
|---|
| 38 | 41 | | (A) the impact of the theft of petroleum products |
|---|
| 39 | 42 | | on the collection of sales tax; |
|---|
| 40 | 43 | | (B) the long-term economic impacts of the theft |
|---|
| 41 | 44 | | of petroleum products; and |
|---|
| 42 | 45 | | (C) the advantages and disadvantages of taking |
|---|
| 43 | 46 | | various actions to reduce the theft of petroleum products; and |
|---|
| 44 | 47 | | (3) make recommendations regarding: |
|---|
| 45 | 48 | | (A) theft of petroleum product outreach and |
|---|
| 46 | 49 | | prevention programs, including coordination among stakeholders, |
|---|
| 47 | 50 | | including local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies; and |
|---|
| 48 | 51 | | (B) training for law enforcement officers and |
|---|
| 49 | 52 | | prosecutors on effective strategies for combating the theft of |
|---|
| 50 | 53 | | petroleum products. |
|---|
| 51 | 54 | | (g) In conducting the study under Subsection (f) of this |
|---|
| 52 | 55 | | section, the members of the task force may: |
|---|
| 53 | 56 | | (1) consult with any organization, governmental |
|---|
| 54 | 57 | | entity, or person the task force considers necessary; and |
|---|
| 55 | 58 | | (2) collaborate and share information relating to an |
|---|
| 56 | 59 | | active criminal investigation with one another regardless of |
|---|
| 57 | 60 | | whether the information would otherwise be confidential and not |
|---|
| 58 | 61 | | subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code. |
|---|
| 59 | 62 | | (h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
|---|
| 60 | 63 | | the task force shall prepare and submit a report of the study |
|---|
| 61 | 64 | | conducted under Subsection (f) of this section to the governor, the |
|---|
| 62 | 65 | | lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
|---|
| 63 | 66 | | the commission, and each standing committee of the legislature with |
|---|
| 64 | 67 | | primary jurisdiction over oil and gas matters. |
|---|
| 65 | 68 | | (i) The report submitted under Subsection (h) of this |
|---|
| 66 | 69 | | section: |
|---|
| 67 | 70 | | (1) must include legislative and other |
|---|
| 68 | 71 | | recommendations to increase transparency, improve security, |
|---|
| 69 | 72 | | enhance consumer protections, prevent the theft of petroleum |
|---|
| 70 | 73 | | products, and address the long-term economic impact of the theft of |
|---|
| 71 | 74 | | petroleum products; and |
|---|
| 72 | 75 | | (2) may be submitted electronically. |
|---|
| 73 | 76 | | (j) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
|---|
| 74 | 77 | | duration of the task force or to the designation of the task force's |
|---|
| 75 | 78 | | presiding officer. |
|---|
| 76 | 79 | | SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
|---|
| 77 | 80 | | of this Act, the Railroad Commission of Texas shall appoint the |
|---|
| 78 | 81 | | theft of petroleum products task force as required by this Act. |
|---|
| 79 | 82 | | SECTION 3. This Act expires December 31, 2030. |
|---|
| 80 | 83 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|