HBA-JEK, AMW H.B. 3483 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3483
By: Ramsay
Environmental Regulation
3/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

To meet mandated air emission reduction standards, coal-fueled power plants
are looking to develop advanced coal utilization technologies.  The United
States Congress has appropriated funds for the research, development, and
deployment of clean coal technologies, but there is no current statewide
initiative to study, develop, and encourage voluntary implementation of
these technologies.  Clean coal technologies have the potential to be more
energy efficient and reliable than existing coal technologies and to
provide a substantial reduction in emissions compared with existing coal
technologies.  House Bill 3483 creates the Texas Clean Coal Technology
Council to coordinate actions for the study and development of clean coal
technology pilot projects in Texas.   

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3483 amends the Government Code to create the Texas Clean Coal
Technology Council (council) to coordinate actions for the study and
development of clean coal technology pilot projects in Texas.  The bill
provides that the council is composed of: 

 _three state senators to be appointed by the lieutenant governor, with one
being designated as co-chair of the council; 

 _three state representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house
of representatives, with one being designated as co-chair of the council; 

 _one member of the public to be appointed by the lieutenant governor; and

 _one member of the public to be appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives. 

The bill sets forth provisions regarding council member terms and meetings
and provides for the administration and operation of the council.  The bill
specifies that the council is subject to provisions regarding open
meetings, open records, and the Administrative Procedure and Texas Register
Act.   

H.B. 3483 requires the council to coordinate the activities of the state
agency designated by the council to provide administrative support to the
council (designated agency) with regard to the specific charges of the
council.  The bill requires the council to provide direction to the
designated agency to study, develop, and promulgate requests for pilot
projects in Texas that will assist the council in evaluating technologies,
assessing economics, evaluating the environmental benefits, seeking funds,
evaluating the useful life of pilot projects, and determining the
importance of clean coal technologies to energy policy in Texas.  The bill
requires requests for proposals to include an assessment of the potential
for the use of financial and other incentives for potential respondents. 
 
The bill requires the council to provide oversight to the designated agency
in seeking public and private funding to support the activities of the
council and the financing of pilot projects and to determine a reasonable
projected duration for the pilot projects.  The bill requires the council
to file with the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and the legislature, before the date that the next regular
session convenes, a report of the council's activities during the two
proceeding years and any recommendations for legislation deemed necessary
with regard to pilot projects and to publish the report. The bill also
requires the designated agency to maintain a public file relating to the
council and to make available to the public a copy of any council report
that is provided to the legislature. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.