Welcome to the latest edition of the Monday Morning Messenger.

In the first story of the morning, the Texas Propane Gas Association educates members about the Texas Patriots' Legal Defense Fund, as many are asking what voluntary assessment goes towards.

In our second story of the morning, the association highlights the January 2024 issue of Texas Propane magazine that has numerous stories we encourage you to check out.

In our third story of the morning, we again highlight that Texas propane providers cannot fill other companies' leased tanks but can in an emergency. Read more about the law in our third story of the morning.

In the fourth story of the morning, a new rule went into effect at the beginning of this year. If you own or operate any gas stations/convenience stores, you are going to want to read our last story of the morning.

Explore our Quick Links section, offering access to the latest Winter Weekly newsletter update, Propane Service Corporation, the expiring EPA Clean School Bus Grant, and quick access to the rebate fund expiring at the end of the month.

In this issue

• In Brief
• Texas Patriots' Legal Defense Fund
• January 2024 Magazine
• Filling Competitors Tanks During Emergencies
• New Requirements for Gas Station Operators
• Quick Links

January 10, 2024

February Texas Propane magazine ad deadline

January 11, 2024

LPG Charity Fund Annual Awareness Mixer

January 15, 2024

TPGA Closed MLK Day

January 31, 2024

EPA Clean School Bus

Grant Program

Affinity Partners

Lone Star Energy Group Workers Comp Insurance

&

Basys Credit Card Processing

&

NoCell Technologies

What is the Voluntary Assessment on Membership Renewals?

By now many of you have received your membership renewal from the Texas Propane Gas Association (TPGA).

Each renewal has a line item on the bill that reads voluntary assessment. As stated in its name it is "voluntary" and you are not obligated to pay this fee; however, this fee goes to an important cause.

The voluntary assessment supports our Texas Patriots Legal Defense Fund. With this fund, the Texas Propane Gas Association has been able to take on multiple cities that operate outside the law including rogue fire marshals as well as help on cases that impede the propane industry in Texas.

TPGA invites members to support our Texas Patriots Legal Defense Fund in 2024 by kindly including the voluntary assessment in your membership renewal.

January 2024: Texas Propane Magazine Is Out

Check out the January issue of Texas Propane magazine for our feature story that investigates propane's role in solving water scarcity. Find out how propane powered ground-based cloud nuclei generators are seeding water solutions in the West.

Here is a snapshot of the stories you will find in this issue:

• Unlocking Nature's Reservoirs: Cloudseeding with Propane
• Scientific Breakthrough: CO2 to Propane
• Propane Personnel Heating Season Safety Considerations
• Winter Warriors: Appreciating Our Drivers
• Winter Texans: RV Safety
• Security Camera Laws in Texas: What You Need to Know
• In the Heart of Texas: PERC Charts Course for 2024
• NPGA Now Accepting Scholarship Applications.

Late next week, temperatures in many parts of the Lone Star State are expected to dip below freezing. In cases like these, you may be getting calls from propane users that are not in your customer base but have a lease tank from another propane company whose provider is unavailable.

The question you may be asking yourself is can you fill this tank?

Chapter 2002 of the Texas Business & Commerce code in the Texas law books allows you to fill tanks if the fuel provider/owner of that tank is not available, keyword in an emergency.

The law states: A person who is not the owner of a liquefied petroleum gas container may fill or refill the container if the person who occupies the premises where the container is located:

(1)requests the service; and

(2)signs a written request stating that:

(A)an emergency exists; and

(B)the owner is unavailable to fill or refill the container, as applicable.

1, 2, A & B must all be met to fill the tank.

January 1, 2024: New Requirements for Gas Station Pump Security Go into Effect

Since several of our members also operate gas stations and convenience stores, the Texas Propane Gas Association wants to alert its members about a new compliance deadline here affecting owners or operators of gas station fuel pumps (gasoline and diesel).

To comply with new security requirements outlined in Texas Admin. Code §97.31, owners and/or operators of these motor fuel devices regulated by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation (TDLR) must have, by January 1, 2024, implemented at least two of the following measures:

• Use tamper-evident security labels that must:
• Replace each factory installed universal locking mechanism with a locking device that uses a unique device-specific or site-specific key code or combination;

1. be placed over each panel opening that provides access to an interior portion of the device where the payment terminal or the device can be accessed;
2. have a unique serial number or unique custom label or easily identifiable custom label or graphic; and
3. be replaced if damaged, perforated, or peeled;

• Install a physical barrier, lock, or other physical securing device that restricts access to the device’s electronic financial transaction compartment;
• Install and maintain monitoring devices or sensors on all doors or panels that provide access to an interior portion of the device and associated payment terminal components. The monitoring device must emit an audible alarm and/or disable the device when unauthorized access is attempted;
• Retrofit, upgrade, or replace each device with an enabled EMV-compliant payment terminal that meets the security, interoperability, and functionality specifications issued by EMVCo, LLC; or
• Install and maintain a high-resolution video camera system and forecourt lighting. To meet these requirements:

1. the video camera system must record the forecourt area at all times, and the system must retain all videos for 30 days or more. Cameras must be positioned to record:
2. each device;
3. the license plates of vehicles approaching or departing the immediate area around each device; and
4. any person interacting with each device at a pixel density of at least 50 pixels per foot; and
5. lighting must be bright enough to ensure a minimum illumination of 10 lumens per square foot at grade.

January 4, 2024

Winter Weekly Propane

Price & Supply Update

U.S, Gulf & Texas

Propane Service Corp

Members save on 100's of items from signs to compliance books

LOGIN, SHOP & SAVE

Your school district can apply for a grant for up to $35,000 per propane school bus

Deadline is January 31, 2024

Propane Appliance Rebates 2023 Deadline Almost Here

Get apps in by extended

deadline of January 31, 2024