SEB C.S.S.B. 1297 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.S.B. 1297
By: Brown
Energy Resources
4/12/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, an operator of a gas pipeline is not required to register with
the Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) and is therefore exempt from
organization reporting requirements of other pipeline facilities.  S.B.1297
authorizes the commission, by rule, to require an operator to provide
operator organization information to the commission.     

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority previously delegated to the Railroad Commission of Texas is
modified in SECTION 1 (Section 121.201, Utilities Code) of this bill.  

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 121.201(a), Utilities Code, to authorize the
Railroad Commission of Texas (commission) to require an operator of a gas
pipeline facility that does not file operator organization information
under Section 91.142, Natural Resources Code (Report to Commission), to
provide the information to the commission in the form of an application.
Redesignates Subdivisions (3)-(6) to Subdivisions (4)-(7).  

SECTION 2.  (a)  Provides that the text of Section 121.201(a), Utilities
Code, as set out in Section 1 of this Act, gives effect to changes made by
Chapter 950, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, in
accordance with Section 311.031(c), Government Code, which gives effect to
a substantive amendment enacted by the same legislature that codifies the
amended statute.   

(b)  Establishes that, to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
over another Act of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, relating
to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes.   

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.