Task force on expansion of natural gas service.

WORKING DRAFT
2014
STATE OF
WYOMING
14LSO-0413.E1

SENATE FILE
NO.
SF0113

Task force on expansion of natural gas service.

Sponsored by:
Senator(s) Hicks and Representative(s) Paxton

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to
natural gas; creating the task force for the expansion of natural gas service to rural and underserved cities and towns; requiring a report; providing an appropriation;
and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

(a)

There is created a task force for the expansion of natural gas service to rural and underserved cities and towns consisting of the following members:

(i)

One (1) member
of the Wyoming senate, appointed
by the president of the senate

who
shall be a
member of the joint minerals, business and economi
c development interim committee;

(ii)

One (1) member
of the Wyoming house of representatives, appointed by th
e speaker of the house,

who
shall
be a member of the joint minerals, business and economi
c development interim committee;

(iii)

Two (2
) members appointed by the governor.
One
(
1
) of the members shall represen
t natural gas utility providers
and one (1) shall be a member of the governor's office;

(iv)

One
(
1) member
designated by the Wyoming association of municipalities;

(v)

O
ne (1) member
representing the Wyoming county commissioners association;

(vi)

One (1) member of the Wyoming public service commission
.

(b)

The task force shall be staffed by the legislative service office. State agencies shall provide information and assistance to the task force as requested.

(c)

The task force shal
l:

(i)

Evaluate the number of cities, towns and rural residential areas which do not have access to natural gas service;

(ii)

Review the legal and logistical issues associated with expanding natural gas service to those underserved areas;

(iii)

Develop preliminary estimates on the costs and infrastructure necessary to provide natural gas service to those underserved areas;

(iv)

Evaluate potential programs that could be implemented through the state or its agencies to expand natural gas service to those areas.

(d)

The task force shall submit its recommendations, including any proposed legislation with respect to the
issues specified in subsection (c) of this section, to the joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee and the governor no later than November 1, 2014. The joint minerals, business and economic development interim committee shall consider the recommendations and develop legislation it deems appropriate for consideration by the legislature in the 2015 general session.

(e)

The task force shall exist until December 31, 2014. Members of the task force who are not state employees or legislators shall not receive a salary but shall receive reimbursement for mileage and per diem expenses at the rate provided for legislators under W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101. Members of the task force who are legislators shall be paid salary, per diem and mileage as provided in W.S. 28
‑
5
‑
101 for their official duties as members of the task force.

(f)

There is appropriated from the general fund:

(i)

Four
thousand
five hundred
dollars ($
4
,
5
00.00) to the legislative service office for payment of salary, per diem and mileage for legislative task force members;

(ii)

Five
thousand dollars ($
5
,000.00) to the governor's office for payment of authorized per diem and mileage for nonlegislative task force members.

Section 2.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

1
SF0113