HBA-NMO, RAR H.B. 590 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 590
By: West, George
Energy Resources
2/18/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the Railroad Commission of Texas collects various fees
from the oil and gas industry, including the drilling permit application
fee, the expedited drilling application fee, and the well plugging
extension fee, most of which are deposited in the Oil-Field Cleanup Fund.
In addition, the comptroller of public accounts also assesses the oil-field
cleanup regulatory fee on oil and the oil-field cleanup fee on gas, which
are also deposited in the Oil-Field Cleanup Fund.  These fees will expire
by statute on August 31, 1999.  H.B. 590 repeals the statute triggering the
expiration of these fees.  

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.  Repealer:  Section 34, Chapter 603, Acts of the 72nd
Legislature, Regular Session, 1991.  That section repeals, effective August
31, 1999, fees imposed under Sections 85.2021 (Drilling Permit Fee), 81.116
(Oil-Field Cleanup Regulatory Fee on Oil), and 81.117 (Oil-Field Cleanup
Regulatory Fee on Gas), Natural Resources Code. 

SECTION 2.   Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.