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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to water research conducted by The University of Texas |
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Bureau of Economic Geology. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 2, Water Code, is amended by adding |
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Subtitle G to read as follows: |
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SUBTITLE G. WATER RESEARCH |
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CHAPTER 39. WATER RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY BUREAU OF ECONOMIC GEOLOGY |
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Sec. 39.0101. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the Texas Water Development Board. |
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(2) "Bureau" means The University of Texas Bureau of |
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Economic Geology. |
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Sec. 39.0102. DATA AND MODELING. (a) The bureau shall, in |
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coordination with the board, make studies of water, including |
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surface water, groundwater, soil moisture, and atmospheric |
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moisture, to improve on data gaps and on the processing, analysis, |
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modeling, and integration of water-related data. |
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(b) The bureau shall, in coordination with the board, work |
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to enhance, advance, or integrate models characterizing the water |
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resources of the state including: |
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(1) improving the techniques for multiscale modeling; |
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(2) expanding the use of artificial intelligence and |
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machine learning techniques; |
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(3) integrating multiscale modeling and machine |
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learning; |
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(4) creating interoperable, modular, or coupled |
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modeling strategies; |
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(5) improving access to and methods for achieving |
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high-performance computing; and |
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(6) improving access to open-source, |
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community-supported modeling. |
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Sec. 39.0103. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION. (a) In |
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fulfilling the duties described by Section 39.0102, the bureau |
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shall cooperate with: |
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(1) the board; |
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(2) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; |
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(3) the Edwards Aquifer Authority; |
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(4) river authorities; |
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(5) groundwater conservation districts; |
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(6) The University of Texas; |
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(7) Texas A&M University; |
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(8) Texas Tech University; and |
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(9) any other state agency or university with access |
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to data related to surface water, groundwater, soil moisture, or |
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atmospheric moisture. |
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(b) The bureau may coordinate with federal agencies or |
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private entities as appropriate to fulfill the requirements of this |
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chapter. |
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(c) The agencies, political subdivisions, and universities |
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described by Subsection (a) shall provide, on request and to the |
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extent available, data to the bureau as necessary to fulfill the |
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requirements of this chapter. |
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(d) To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency, the |
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provisions of Chapters 6 and 16 describing the powers, duties, and |
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functions of the board prevail over this chapter. |
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(e) The bureau and the board shall enter into a memorandum |
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of understanding to define their powers, duties, and functions |
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related to this chapter. |
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Sec. 39.0104. RESULTS. The bureau shall cooperate with the |
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board to ensure that the data and information compiled and produced |
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under Section 39.0102 are made available in accordance with Section |
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16.012(d). |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |