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AN ACT
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relating to the composition and use of money in the oil and gas |
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regulation and cleanup fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 81.067(b) and (c), Natural Resources |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The commission shall certify to the comptroller the date |
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on which the balance in the fund equals or exceeds $30 [$20] |
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million. The oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on oil and gas shall |
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not be collected or required to be paid on or after the first day of |
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the second month following the certification, except that the |
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comptroller shall resume collecting the fees on receipt of a |
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commission certification that the fund has fallen below $25 [$10] |
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million. The comptroller shall continue collecting the fees until |
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collections are again suspended in the manner provided by this |
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subsection. |
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(c) The fund consists of: |
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(1) proceeds from bonds and other financial security |
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required by this chapter and benefits under well-specific plugging |
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insurance policies described by Section 91.104(c) that are paid to |
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the state as contingent beneficiary of the policies, subject to the |
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refund provisions of Section 91.1091, if applicable; |
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(2) private contributions, including contributions |
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made under Section 89.084; |
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(3) expenses collected under Section 89.083; |
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(4) fees imposed under Section 85.2021; |
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(5) costs recovered under Section 91.457 or 91.459; |
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(6) proceeds collected under Sections 89.085 and |
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91.115; |
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(7) interest earned on the funds deposited in the |
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fund; |
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(8) oil and gas waste hauler permit application fees |
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collected under Section 29.015, Water Code; |
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(9) costs recovered under Section 91.113(f); |
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(10) hazardous oil and gas waste generation fees |
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collected under Section 91.605; |
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(11) oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on oil |
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collected under Section 81.116; |
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(12) oil-field cleanup regulatory fees on gas |
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collected under Section 81.117; |
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(13) fees for a reissued certificate collected under |
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Section 91.707; |
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(14) fees collected under Section 91.1013; |
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(15) fees collected under Section 89.088; |
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(16) fees collected under Section 91.142; |
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(17) fees collected under Section 91.654; |
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(18) costs recovered under Sections 91.656 and 91.657; |
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(19) two-thirds of the fees collected under Section |
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81.0521; |
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(20) fees collected under Sections 89.024 and 89.026; |
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(21) legislative appropriations; [and] |
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(22) any surcharges collected under Section 81.070; |
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and |
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(23) fees collected under Section 91.0115. |
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SECTION 2. Section 81.068, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 81.068. PURPOSE OF OIL AND GAS REGULATION AND CLEANUP |
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FUND. Money in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund may be |
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used by the commission or its employees or agents for any purpose |
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related to the regulation of oil and gas development, including oil |
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and gas monitoring and inspections, oil and gas remediation, oil |
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and gas well plugging, public information and services related to |
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those activities, the study and evaluation of electronic access to |
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geologic data and surface casing depths necessary to protect usable |
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groundwater in this state, and administrative costs and state |
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benefits for personnel involved in those activities. |
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SECTION 3. Section 91.0115, Natural Resources Code, is |
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amended by amending Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (d) to |
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read as follows: |
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(c) The commission shall charge a fee not to exceed $75, in |
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addition to the fee required by Subsection (b), for processing a |
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request to expedite a letter of determination. [Money collected
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under this subsection may be used to study and evaluate electronic
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access to geologic data and surface casing depths under Section
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91.020.] |
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(d) The fees collected under this section shall be deposited |
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in the oil and gas regulation and cleanup fund. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3309 was passed by the House on April |
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26, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 135, Nays 1, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 3309 on May 23, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 0, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 3309 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 21, 2013, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |