Status of TBPG Legislation: So Far, So Good
See Status of TBPG Legislation: https://capitol.texas.gov/mytlo/mobile/BillHistory.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB%201311 Bill Language: https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HB01311I.pdf
Texas Legislature Hearing on HB-1311
All Texas AIPG Members: The following link is streaming video from hearings on HB-1311, regarding the Texas Board Professional Geoscientists (TBPG) in Austin, Texas: http://tlcsenate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=45&clip_id=14257 The pertinent testimony begins at 1 hr., 8 minutes, and runs through 1 hr., 32 minutes. See the time bar below the screen to adjust the time into the video. See Texas House Bill citation: HB 1311, by Senfronia Thompson, Flynn, Lambert, Paddie, Nevarez, Watson, identical to SB 609, Relating to the continuation and functions of the Texas Board of Professional Geoscientists. Scheduled for public hearing on 4/16/2019. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311 See Texas Senate Bill citation: SB [...]
Texas House Bill Passes by Wide Majority, Now to Senate
HGS's Clint Moore reports that folks should use the following link that takes you to the House bill, and then click the “companions” tab and you will see Senate bill 609, which is still in committee over on the senate side. https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311 HB 1311 was passed with 121 yes, 16 no, with about a dozen absent or not voting. Some absent either did not get to their desk fast enough to vote or were otherwise not pushing the button on their desk. So, check back tomorrow for a final vote tally. The absent dozen can vote long after the [...]
Update: Monitoring House Bill Activities
MARCH 31 UPDATE: MONITORING HOUSE BILL ACTIVITIES: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB1311 Henry M. Wise, President of AIPG Texas Section, has heard from his contacts that now is the time. The final stretch of getting the amended Texas Geoscience Act reauthorized is here. Senate and House Bill 1311 currently being considered by the Licensing and Administrative Procedures Committee and will be voted on in the immediate future, even as early as tomorrow. As with most of life, timing is everything. TGC has been following the lead of our lobbyist about when the proper time would be for us to call our representatives to [...]
SIPES Field Trip to the Palo Duro Canyon – May 3 to 5, 2019
To All AIPG Members: Here is the announcement on the SIPES Dallas Field Trip to the Palo Duro Canyon. Dr. Holbrook (TCU sedimentology professor) has been instrumental in getting this field trip together. He has a graduate student, Grayson Lamb, who has been studying the Dockum Group in the canyon for his master’s thesis. Apparently Grayson has encountered some really interesting aspects of the Dockum Group. See the flyer for this trip (here) and below: Also click here for PDF of flyer. Please note that there are only a limited number of rooms blocked for us because of another [...]
The Wise Report
The State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information is listed in bold (0 new bills listed): House Bills: HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Referred to State Affairs, 2/19/2019. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223 HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field [...]
The Wise Report
The State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information is listed in bold (34 new bills listed): HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Referred to State Affairs, 2/19/2019. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223 HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field equipment, the use of [...]
Additional Councilors-at-Large Appointed to the Advisory Board
Henry M. Wise, P.G., C.P.G., President of the AIPG Texas Section, announced today that in a move to widen the representation of AIPG in Texas, three additional Councilors-at-Large were just appointed from a field of candidates during and confirmed after deliberations of the February AIPG Texas Section Board Teleconference. These are: G. Boyd Handley, Jr., P.G., JD., C.P.G., Houston.....in District IV Hughbert Collier, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., Stephenville.....in District III Kevin J. Smart, Ph.D., P.G., C.P.G., San Antonio......in District II On another matter, President Wise announced that Glen Collier, P.G., C.P.G. is retiring from the Advisory Board and will be [...]
The Wise Report
The Texas State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information is listed in bold (four new bills listed): HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Referred to State Affairs, 2/19/2019. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223 HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field equipment, the [...]
The Wise Report
The Texas State Legislature is now in session and bills are being filed and worked on. New information is listed in bold (four new bills listed): Texas House Bills: HB 223, by Reynolds, Relating to the funding through greenhouse gas emissions fees of energy efficiency programs administered by certain utilities; authorizing a fee. Filed 11/12/2018. For more information go to: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/history.aspx?LegSess=86R&Bill=HB223 HB 225, by Reynolds, Relating to the analysis of inspection and maintenance requirements for air quality permits issued by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for certain oil and gas facilities. Regulates fugitive emissions from all oil field [...]