Carter Named to Railroad Commission Sunset Conference Committee

May 27, 2011

(AUSTIN, TX)  – Representative Stefani Carter (R-Dallas) has been selected to serve as a conferee on Senate Bill 655, also known as the Railroad Commission Sunset bill.

The Railroad Commission is subject to the Sunset Act and will be abolished on September 1, 2011, unless continued by the Legislature.  SB 655 seeks to continue the functioning of the commission but proposes fundamental changes in order to guarantee responsive oversight of today’s oil and gas industry.

“The Railroad Commission is an indispensible government entity in Texas,” said Carter. “Given the importance of the oil and gas industry, the commission is vital to ensuring the efficient production, safe transportation, and fair price of our energy resources.”

Carter, along with four other representatives and five senators, will serve on the conference committee for SB 655.  The goal of the committee is to work out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill and come to a consensus.

The House and the Senate have several fundamental disparities in their respective versions.  For example, while the House seeks to retain the three commissioner make-up of the Commission, the Senate restricts it to one.  Another fundamental difference is the “resign to run” provision included in the House version but not in the Senate.  This provision would require commissioners to resign their post prior to seeking another elected office.  However, both versions seek to change the name of the commission in an effort to more accurately reflect its duties.  It will now be known as the Texas Oil and Gas Commission.

“While there are a number of differences to hammer out, I look forward to collaborating with my colleagues in the House and Senate to reach a compromise that will protect and strengthen the Commission, as well as our oil and gas industry,” said Carter.

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