HBA-NMO H.B. 3006 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3006
By: Lewis, Ron
Energy Resources
3/19/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law provides criminal penalties for the falsification of reports or
forms submitted to the Railroad Commission of Texas (commission); however,
local law enforcement officials, busy with other criminal cases, may not be
effectively prosecuting these offenses.  At the same time, the commission
is not explicitly authorized to impose administrative penalties for such
violations.   H.B. 3006 authorizes the commission to impose administrative
penalties of up to $1,000 per violation for falsification of reports or
forms. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 91.143, Natural Resources Code, to authorize the
commission to impose an administrative penalty  in the manner provided by
Sections 81.0531-81.0534, Natural Resources Code, on a person who violates
this section (False Applications, Reports, and Documents and Tampering With
Gauges).  Prohibits the penalty from exceeding $1,000 for each violation.
Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.