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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of an advisory committee for the |
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TexNet seismic monitoring program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 67, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 67.72 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 67.72. TEXNET TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In |
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this section, "program" means the TexNet seismic monitoring program |
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administered by the bureau. |
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(b) The TexNet Technical Advisory Committee is established |
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as an advisory committee within the bureau. |
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(c) The advisory committee consists of nine members |
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appointed by the governor, including: |
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(1) one representative of the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas who specializes in seismology, geomechanical engineering, |
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reservoir engineering, or another related field recommended to the |
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governor by the executive director of the Railroad Commission of |
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Texas; and |
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(2) at least three representatives from the oil and |
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gas industry, not to include the representative appointed under |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(d) The governor shall designate a member of the advisory |
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committee as the chair of the advisory committee to serve in that |
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capacity at the pleasure of the governor. |
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(e) A person affiliated with the bureau or under contract |
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for services with the bureau may not serve as a voting member of the |
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advisory committee. |
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(f) The director of the bureau shall serve, ex officio, as a |
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nonvoting member of the advisory committee. |
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(g) The advisory committee shall: |
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(1) in coordination with the bureau, develop |
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recommendations for a program of work to assist the program and any |
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research efforts affiliated with the program in accomplishing the |
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goals of the program, including recommendations regarding: |
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(A) the acquisition and deployment of equipment; |
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(B) contracting with vendors; |
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(C) determining the scope of research programs |
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associated with the program; and |
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(D) determining the scope of any use of funds |
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appropriated by the legislature for the program or associated |
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research; |
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(2) review and approve or reject expenditures made in |
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connection with the program; |
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(3) prepare and approve an annual budget for the use of |
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any funds appropriated for the program by the legislature; |
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(4) provide oversight and input on the acquisition, |
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deployment, and operation of new and existing program equipment; |
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(5) ensure that there is a monthly transmission of the |
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data collected by seismic equipment operated under the program to |
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the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology database; |
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and |
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(6) solicit from the bureau quarterly updates |
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regarding the progress of the program, expenditures made in |
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connection with the program, and any other information related to |
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the program that the advisory committee finds necessary. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, |
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the advisory committee shall prepare and submit to the governor, |
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the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives a report that includes: |
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(1) a review of the use of any funds appropriated for |
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the program by the legislature; |
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(2) a complete listing and accounting of all research |
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funded through the program, including: |
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(A) a list of contractors employed under the |
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program; |
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(B) an itemized budget for each program element; |
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and |
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(C) a list of the geographic coverage of the |
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program; and |
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(3) recommendations related to the ongoing operations |
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and requirements of the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |