H.B. No. 1500
 
 
 
AN ACT
relating to the continuation and functions of the Public Utility
Commission of Texas and the Office of Public Utility Counsel, and
the functions of the independent organization certified for the
ERCOT power region; increasing an administrative penalty.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Section 12.005, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 12.005.  APPLICATION OF SUNSET ACT. The Public Utility
Commission of Texas is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code
(Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by
that chapter or by Chapter 39, the commission is abolished [and this
title expires] September 1, 2029 [2023].
       SECTION 2.  Section 12.059, Utilities Code, is amended to
read as follows:
       Sec. 12.059.  TRAINING PROGRAM FOR COMMISSIONERS. (a) A
person who is appointed to and qualifies for office as a member of
the commission may not vote, deliberate, or be counted as a member
in attendance at a meeting of the commission until the person
completes a [Before a commissioner may assume the commissioner's
duties and before the commissioner may be confirmed by the senate,
the commissioner must complete at least one course of the] training
program that complies with [established under] this section.
       (b)  The [A] training program must [established under this
section shall] provide the person with information [to the
commissioner] regarding:
             (1)  the law governing [enabling legislation that
created the] commission operations [and its policymaking body to
which the commissioner is appointed to serve];
             (2)  the programs, functions, rules, and budget of
[operated by] the commission;
             (3)  the scope [role and functions] of and limitations
on the rulemaking authority of the commission;
             (4)  the results [rules] of the most recent formal
audit of the commission [with an emphasis on the rules that relate
to disciplinary and investigatory authority];
             (5)  the requirements of:
                   (A)  laws relating to open meetings, public
information, administrative procedure, and disclosing conflicts of
interest; and
                   (B)  other laws applicable to members of a state
policy-making body in performing their duties [current budget for
the commission]; and
             (6)  [the results of the most recent formal audit of the
commission;
             [(7)  the requirements of Chapters 551, 552, and 2001,
Government Code;
             [(8)  the requirements of the conflict of interest laws
and other laws relating to public officials; and
             [(9)]  any applicable ethics policies adopted by the
commission or the Texas Ethics Commission.
       (c)  A person [who is] appointed to the commission is
entitled to reimbursement, as provided by the General
Appropriations Act, for the travel expenses incurred in attending
the training program regardless of whether the attendance at the
program occurs before or after the person qualifies for office.
       (d)  The executive director of the commission shall create a
training manual that includes the information required by
Subsection (b). The executive director shall distribute a copy of
the training manual annually to each member of the commission. Each
member of the commission shall sign and submit to the executive
director a statement acknowledging that the member received and has
reviewed the training manual.
       SECTION 3.  Section 12.202, Utilities Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2) to read as follows:
       (a-1)  The policies adopted under this section must require
the agenda for each regular commission meeting to include public
testimony as a meeting agenda item and allow members of the public
to comment on:
             (1)  each meeting agenda item unrelated to a contested
case; and
             (2)  other matters under the commission's jurisdiction.
       (a-2)  The commission may prohibit public comment at a

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Utilities Code 12.005, Utilities Code 12.059, Utilities Code 12.202, Utilities Code 12.203, Utilities Code 13.002, Utilities Code 39.151, Utilities Code 39.1511, Utilities Code 39.155, Utilities Code 39.157, Utilities Code 39.203, Utilities Code 39.206, Utilities Code 39.904, Utilities Code 39.9055, Utilities Code 39.908, Utilities Code 52.060, Water Code 13.4132 (Utilities Code 13, Utilities Code 39, Utilities Code 52, Utilities Code 12, Water Code 13)
House Committee Report: Utilities Code 12.005, Utilities Code 12.059, Utilities Code 12.202, Utilities Code 12.203, Utilities Code 13.002, Utilities Code 39.151, Utilities Code 39.1511, Utilities Code 39.155, Utilities Code 39.157, Utilities Code 39.203, Utilities Code 39.206, Utilities Code 39.408, Utilities Code 39.4525, Utilities Code 39.504, Utilities Code 39.904, Utilities Code 39.9055, Utilities Code 39.908, Utilities Code 52.060, Water Code 13.4132 (Utilities Code 13, Utilities Code 39, Utilities Code 52, Utilities Code 12, Water Code 13)
Engrossed: Utilities Code 12.005, Utilities Code 12.059, Utilities Code 12.202, Utilities Code 12.203, Utilities Code 13.002, Utilities Code 39.151, Utilities Code 39.1511, Utilities Code 39.155, Utilities Code 39.157, Utilities Code 39.203, Utilities Code 39.206, Utilities Code 39.408, Utilities Code 39.4525, Utilities Code 39.504, Utilities Code 39.904, Utilities Code 39.9055, Utilities Code 39.908, Utilities Code 52.060, Water Code 13.4132 (Utilities Code 13, Utilities Code 39, Utilities Code 52, Utilities Code 12, Water Code 13)
Senate Committee Report: Utilities Code 12.005, Utilities Code 12.059, Utilities Code 12.202, Utilities Code 12.203, Utilities Code 13.002, Utilities Code 39.151, Utilities Code 39.1511, Utilities Code 39.1515, Utilities Code 39.155, Utilities Code 39.157, Utilities Code 39.203, Utilities Code 39.206, Utilities Code 39.408, Utilities Code 39.4525, Utilities Code 39.504, Utilities Code 39.9