EXPEDITED PROCESSING OF APPLICATION.

(a) An applicant, in a manner prescribed by the commission, may request the expedited processing of an application filed under this chapter if the applicant demonstrates that the purpose of the application will benefit the economy of this state or an area of this state.

(b) The executive director may grant an expedited processing request if the executive director determines that granting the request will benefit the economy of this state or an area of this state.

(c) The expediting of an application under this section does not affect a contested case hearing or applicable federal, state, and regulatory requirements, including the notice, opportunity for a public hearing, and submission of public comment required under this chapter.

(d) The commission by rule may add a surcharge to an application fee assessed under this chapter for an expedited application in an amount sufficient to cover the expenses incurred by the expediting, including overtime, costs of full-time equivalent commission employees to support the expedited processing of air permit applications, contract labor, and other costs. The surcharge is considered part of the application fee and shall be deposited with the fee to the credit of the clean air account established under Section 382.0622(b). Money from the surcharge collected under this section may be used to support the expedited processing of air permit applications under this section.

(e) The commission may authorize the use of overtime, full-time equivalent commission employees to support the expedited processing of air permit applications, or contract labor to process expedited applications. The overtime, full-time equivalent commission employees, or contract labor authorized under this section is not included in the calculation of the number of full-time equivalent commission employees allotted under other law.

(f) The commission may pay for compensatory time, overtime, full-time equivalent commission employees supporting the expedited processing of air permit applications, or contract labor used to implement this section. The commission is authorized to set the rate for overtime compensation for full-time equivalent commission employees supporting the expedited processing of air permit applications.

(g) A rule adopted under this section must be consistent with Chapter 2001, Government Code. A rule adopted under this section regarding notice must include a provision to require an indication that the application is being processed in an expedited manner.