House Status:
Senate Status:
Senate Status:
Minutes for HB2536 - Committee on Appropriations
Short Title
Updating the state corporation commission's authority to regulate abandoned oil and gas wells, providing methods for the commission to plug such wells and authorizing payments from the abandoned oil and gas well fund for certain plugging operations.
Minutes Content for Thu, Mar 5, 2020
Chairman Waymaster opened discussion on the bills. He reviewed a balloon amendment, which changes language to HB 2536 (Attachment 2).
Chairman Waymaster made a motion to approve the balloon amendment. Representative Johnson seconded the motion.
Discussion followed by committee members. The collaborative efforts by all parties, on amending the language in the bill, was commended.
Chairman Waymaster renewed the motion. Motion passed.
Discussion continued by committee members. It was noted the intent would be to combine all three bills into one bill, which would be debated on the House floor as a House substitute bill.
Representative Carlin made a motion to change the fees in HB 2534 from 75 cents to $1.50 per the aggregate depth of the well. Representative Helgerson seconded the motion.
Discussion followed by committee members regarding the motion.
Representative Carlin withdrew the motion, which was at the approval of the second to the motion.
Discussion continued by committee members regarding the language in the bill pertaining to identifying responsible parties, which is not inclusive under the current law, and the Kansas Corporation Commission's investigative role related to plugging abandoned wells.
Representative Hoffman made a motion to combine the contents of HB 2534 and HB 2535 into HB 2536, as amended, favorable for passage, as HSub for SB 2536. Representative Francis seconded the motion.
Discussion followed by committee members regarding the abandoned oil and gas funds, which are fees that are charged to the operators.
Representative Hoffman renewed the motion. Motion passed.
