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AN ACT
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relating to creation of the gulf coast protection account to be |
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administered by the General Land Office. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 31, Natural Resources |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 31.070 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 31.070. GULF COAST PROTECTION ACCOUNT. (a) The gulf |
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coast protection account is a dedicated account in the general |
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revenue fund administered by the land office under this section and |
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rules adopted by the land office. |
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(b) The gulf coast protection account consists of money |
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from: |
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(1) gifts, donations, and grants, including federal |
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grants; and |
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(2) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to |
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the account by the legislature. |
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(c) The land office shall deposit to the credit of the gulf |
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coast protection account any federal money received by the state |
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for the protection of the gulf coast, to the extent permitted by |
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federal law. |
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(d) Money in the gulf coast protection account may be used |
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only to pay for expenditures that: |
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(1) are eligible for credit towards the non-federal |
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match of the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility |
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Study Final Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Impact |
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Statement issued by the Galveston District, Southwestern Division, |
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of the United States Army Corps of Engineers; |
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(2) comply with the terms of a local cooperation |
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agreement executed by the land office and the Gulf Coast Protection |
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District established under Chapter 9502, Special District Local |
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Laws Code; and |
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(3) are for projects that are necessary or useful for |
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the protection of the portion of the gulf coast located within the |
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territory of the district. |
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(e) The legislature finds that the expenditure of money in |
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the gulf coast protection account in accordance with Subsection (d) |
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serves a public purpose. |
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(f) The expenditure of money in the gulf coast protection |
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account is subject to audit by the state auditor. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2416 was passed by the House on April |
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18, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 140, Nays 6, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 2416 on May 24, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 142, Nays 1, |
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1 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 2416 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 18, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |