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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment |
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Council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "council" means the Climate |
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Change Impact Assessment Council established by this Act. |
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(b) The council is established to study the impact of |
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climate change on the health, safety, and welfare of the residents |
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of this state. |
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(c) The council is composed of the following members: |
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(1) two members of the senate appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(2) two members of the house of representatives |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(3) seven members of the public appointed jointly by |
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the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives, including: |
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(A) one member with expertise in climatology; |
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(B) one member with expertise in this state's |
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economy; |
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(C) one member with expertise in land management |
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and natural resource maintenance; and |
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(D) one member representing the tourism |
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industry. |
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(d) A public member of the council is entitled to |
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reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while |
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conducting the business of the council, as provided by the General |
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Appropriations Act. |
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(e) The House Committee on Environmental Regulation and the |
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Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development |
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shall provide personnel and administrative support to the council |
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as needed. |
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(f) The council shall conduct a study to: |
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(1) assess the current and potential effects of |
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climate change trends on the residents, natural resources, public |
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health, and economy of this state; |
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(2) estimate the costs to this state of adverse |
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effects associated with climate change; |
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(3) research measures for preventing or mitigating the |
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effects of flooding, erosion, drought, and wildfires that may be |
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caused or worsened by climate change; and |
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(4) recommend legislation or other regulations to |
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minimize the adverse impact of climate change on this state. |
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(g) The council shall hold public hearings in various parts |
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of this state to gather information related to the council's study. |
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(h) Not later than January 1, 2023, the council shall |
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prepare and submit a report to the legislature containing the |
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findings of the study described in Subsection (f) of this section. |
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(i) The council is abolished and this Act expires September |
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1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the lieutenant |
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governor and the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint members to the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council as |
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required by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the |
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last day of the legislative session. |