Brief ⁽¹⁾

HB 2781 would amend current law to clarify that the State Corporation Commission has the authority to impose monetary penalties against oil and gas operators for violations of rules and regulations of the Commission or orders of the Commission.

Background

This bill was introduced at the request of a spokesperson from the State Corporation Commission.

At the hearing on the bill, the Senior Assistant General Counsel of the Conservation Division of the State Corporation Commission appeared in support of the bill. The spokesperson stated that the bill was intended to clarify that the Commission could impose monetary penalties against oil and gas operators for violations of any rules and regulations of the Commission or any order of the Commission. The House Committee on Environment was told the Oil and Gas Advisory Committee has reviewed the bill.

The fiscal note on the bill states that the State Corporation Commission and the Citizens' Utility Ratepayer Board have indicated that the passage of the bill would not affect state revenues or expenditures.

1. *Supplemental notes are prepared by the Legislative Research Department and do not express legislative intent. The supplemental note and fiscal note for this bill may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.ink.org/public/legislative/bill_search.html