| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the creation and administration of the On-The-Ground |
|
|
Conservation Program by the State Soil and Water Conservation |
|
|
Board. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
|
|
adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER J. ON-THE-GROUND CONSERVATION PROGRAM |
|
|
Sec. 201.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
|
|
(1) "Priority conservation measure" means a priority |
|
|
soil and water conservation land improvement measure designated |
|
|
under Section 201.355. |
|
|
(2) "Program" means the On-The-Ground Conservation |
|
|
Program. |
|
|
(3) "Soil health characteristics" means the physical, |
|
|
chemical, and biological characteristics of soil for optimal |
|
|
production, including lower bulk density, good gas exchange, lower |
|
|
surface temperature during growing season, high cation exchange |
|
|
capacity, high soil organic matter, and active soil microorganisms. |
|
|
Sec. 201.352. CREATION OF PROGRAM. The state board may |
|
|
develop and administer the program to maximize public benefits by |
|
|
facilitating priority conservation measures and other soil and |
|
|
water conservation land improvement measures by landowners and |
|
|
operators in this state. |
|
|
Sec. 201.353. PROGRAM FUNCTIONS. (a) The state board may |
|
|
provide through the program: |
|
|
(1) technical assistance; |
|
|
(2) cost-share assistance; |
|
|
(3) direct grants; and |
|
|
(4) help in obtaining technical assistance, |
|
|
cost-share assistance, and direct grants from other public or |
|
|
private sources. |
|
|
(b) The state board may create rules, forms, and procedures |
|
|
necessary for the administration of the program. |
|
|
(c) The state board may: |
|
|
(1) obtain grants, cost-sharing assistance, or other |
|
|
forms of funding from other state or federal governmental entities; |
|
|
(2) coordinate, receive, and use gifts, grants, and |
|
|
donations from private sources; |
|
|
(3) work with qualified nonprofit organizations and |
|
|
universities to provide technical assistance; and |
|
|
(4) designate one or more conservation districts to |
|
|
administer the program locally. |
|
|
Sec. 201.354. PROGRAM COST-SHARE RATES. The state board |
|
|
may establish cost-share rates for eligible soil and water |
|
|
conservation land improvement measures under the program. |
|
|
Sec. 201.355. PRIORITY CONSERVATION MEASURES. (a) The |
|
|
state board may designate and give priority under the program to |
|
|
priority conservation measures that maximize public benefits to the |
|
|
state. Priority conservation measures include measures that: |
|
|
(1) improve soil health characteristics; |
|
|
(2) conserve and manage water resources; |
|
|
(3) prevent and manage flooding; |
|
|
(4) control invasive and nuisance species; |
|
|
(5) improve resilience to weather extremes, climate |
|
|
variability, and natural disasters; |
|
|
(6) protect and enhance native habitats, including the |
|
|
protection of endangered species; |
|
|
(7) mitigate and reduce soil erosion; |
|
|
(8) restore land damaged by development; and |
|
|
(9) sequester carbon to provide environmental |
|
|
benefits. |
|
|
(b) The state board may: |
|
|
(1) establish standards and specifications for each |
|
|
priority conservation measure designated under this section; and |
|
|
(2) consider local priorities and needs in designating |
|
|
a priority conservation measure under this section. |
|
|
Sec. 201.356. CERTIFICATION. The state board may provide |
|
|
certification that specific soil and water conservation land |
|
|
improvement measures have been implemented in accordance with any |
|
|
standards and specifications established under Section 201.355(b). |
|
|
Sec. 201.357. REPORT. The state board shall include |
|
|
information regarding the program's activities in the annual report |
|
|
required by Section 201.028. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |