Texas. Legislature. Senate. Natural Resources Committee

The Texas Senate Natural Resources Committee is a standing legislative committee which reviews matters concerning the environment and natural resources of Texas and has oversight of such agencies as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (as of 2002, renamed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). Subcommittees on agriculture and/or water frequently have been created to concentrate efforts to study issues related to those fields. As a standing committee (according to the Texas Administrative Code, Section 301, Subchapter B), the Senate Natural Resources Committee is expected to operate regardless of whether or not the Legislature is currently in session and must do the following: conduct a continuing study of any matter within its jurisdiction and of the instrumentalities of government administering or executing the matter; examine the administration and execution of all laws relating to jurisdictional matters; conduct investigations to collect adequate information and materials necessary to perform its duties; formulate legislative programs; and initiate, draft, and recommend to the Senate any legislation the committee deems necessary and desirable. The committee chair must introduce or cause to be introduced the legislative programs developed by the committee and shall mobilize efforts to secure the passage of such proposals. The committee may inspect the records, documents, and files of each state department, agency, or office, as needed, to perform its duties. As a standing committee, it is not limited to considering items submitted by individual legislators, but must search for problems within its jurisdiction and develop, formulate, initiate, and secure passage of any legislative solution the committee deems desirable. When the legislature is in session, the committee may meet when it chooses, so long as it adheres to applicable legislative requirements and rules of procedure. When the legislature is not in session, it will meet when necessary to transact the committee's business wherever authorized by the legislation which created the committee.

The Texas Senate Natural Resources Committee is a standing legislative committee which reviews matters concerning the environment and natural resources of Texas and has oversight of such agencies as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission (as of 2002, renamed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality). Subcommittees on agriculture and/or water frequently have been created to concentrate efforts to study issues related to those fields.

As a standing committee (according to the Texas Administrative Code, Section 301, Subchapter B), the Senate Natural Resources Committee is expected to operate regardless of whether or not the legislature is currently in session and must do the following: conduct a continuing study of any matter within its jurisdiction and of the instrumentalities of government administering or executing the matter; examine the administration and execution of all laws relating to jurisdictional matters; conduct investigations to collect adequate information and materials necessary to perform its duties; formulate legislative programs; and initiate, draft, and recommend to the senate any legislation the committee deems necessary and desirable. The committee chair must introduce or cause to be introduced the legislative programs developed by the committee and shall mobilize efforts to secure the passage of such proposals. The committee may inspect the records, documents, and files of each state department, agency, or office, as needed, to perform its duties. As a standing committee, it is not limited to considering items submitted by individual legislators, but must search for problems within its jurisdiction and develop, formulate, initiate, and secure passage of any legislative solution the committee deems desirable. When the legislature is in session, the committee may meet when it chooses, so long as it adheres to applicable legislative requirements and rules of procedure. When the legislature is not in session, it will meet when necessary to transact the committee's business wherever authorized by the legislation which created the committee.