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Interim Hearings – Week of August 25, 2014

Interim Hearings – Week of August 25th

Today's Committee Meetings on the LRL website is a calendar of interim committee hearings with links to agendas. Below are resources related to upcoming Interim Hearings.
 

August 25th Top

House Committee on Energy Resources

 

 

August 26th Top

Senate Committee on Education

Charge 1: Examine STAAR writing scores and review types of writing required.  Explore need for targeted professional development in writing

 

Charge #2: Monitor implementation of legislation and make recommendations needed to improve, enhance and/or complete implementation:

  • HB 5, update from previous hearing on the passing rates of STAAR End-of-Course assessments for the graduating class of 2015

 

  • HB 1926, relating to the operation of the state virtual school network and courses provided through other distance learning arrangements

 

  • SB 376, relating to breakfast for certain public school students

 

  • HB 617, relating to transition and employment services for public school students enrolled in special education programs.

 

House Committee on Energy Resources

Charge 1: Study the impact of the expanding oil and gas exploration and production occurring across the state. The study should review of the following issues:

 

  • The effect on the state budget and the Economic Stabilization Fund;

  • The overall impact on the state economy;

  • The impact on property values and local taxes;

  • The effect on roads;

  • The impact on local school districts;

  • The complex relationship between land owners, royalty owners, and operators;

  • The impact on the environment, including emissions and injection wells;

  • Projected water needs and how those fit with our state water plan; and

  • The housing issues created by the number of workers needed in areas of shale plays.

 

Charge 2: Study the efficiency and effectiveness of the P5 permitting process at the Railroad Commission

 

Charge 3: Study and review the appropriation of general revenue dollars allocated to the Railroad Commission for improvements in IT systems to ensure those funds are being utilized to streamline the permitting process and to allow access to information for all parties that conduct business at the Commission.

 

Charge 4: Review the application of Texas Business & Commerce Code, Section 9.343, to determine the legal rights of unperfected security interests of oil and gas producers with respect to subsequent purchasers, specifically in the context of a bankruptcy proceeding such as Arrow Oil & Gas, Inc. v. SemCrude, L.P. and subsequent cases.

 

Charge 5: Monitor the implementation of HB 2982 (83R) to ensure that the required rulemaking is completed efficiently and in a timely manner.

 

House Committee on Transportation

Charge: Usage of state funds by the Texas Department of Transportation for improving road quality in areas impacted by Energy Sector activities

 

Charge: Implementation of "Turn-Back Program" by the Texas Department of Transportation, specifically fiscal impact to municipalities and taxpayers

 

Charge: County authority to utilize tax increment financing and transportation reinvestment zones to fund transportation projects

 

Charge: Legislative oversight and monitoring of agencies and programs under the committee's jurisdiction

 

August 27th Top

House Select Committee on Economic Development Incentives

Testimony from various state incentive programs, including the moving image industry, special events funds, and local programs, and coordination between state and local economic development entities

 

Charge: Current restrictions on state and local government relating to construction of critical infrastructure, including transportation and water projects

 

Charge: Application of Public Information Act to requests for large amounts of electronic data

August 28th Top

Topic: Current state of the health care workforce in Texas