House Bill 14-1356 Summary

• Increases maximum penalty for oil and gas operators from $1,000 to $15,000 per day for violations of articles, rules, orders, or permits.

• Establishes penalty schedule rules that define violation duration based on type: reporting violations begin when report should be made and end when submitted; other violations begin when discovered and end when corrective action commences.

• Requires the commission to publish quarterly reports on its website detailing each penalty assessed, including penalty amount, days of violation, aggravating/mitigating circumstances, and whether violation was part of a pattern.

• Mandates commission hearings for operators responsible for gross negligence, knowing and willful misconduct resulting in egregious violations, or patterns of violations; permits suspension or denial of new permits until operator demonstrates compliance.

• Appropriates $80,425 and 0.9 FTE from the oil and gas conservation and environmental response fund to the commission for implementation, effective upon passage.