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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology |
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Network and creation of the TexMesonet Advisory Committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.012(b), Water Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The executive administrator shall: |
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(1) determine suitable locations for future water |
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facilities, including reservoir sites; |
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(2) determine suitable, cost-effective water supply |
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alternatives on a regional basis, including voluntary means of |
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encouraging aggressive water conservation; |
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(3) locate land best suited for irrigation; |
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(4) make estimates of the cost of proposed irrigation |
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works and the improvement of reservoir sites; |
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(5) examine and survey reservoir sites; |
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(6) monitor the effects of fresh water inflows upon |
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the bays and estuaries of Texas; |
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(7) monitor instream flows; |
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(7-a) monitor hydrometeorological conditions; |
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(8) lead a statewide effort, in coordination with |
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federal, state, and local governments, institutions of higher |
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education, and other interested parties, to develop a network for |
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collecting and disseminating water resource-related information |
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that is sufficient to support assessment of ambient water |
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conditions statewide; |
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(9) make recommendations for optimizing the |
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efficiency and effectiveness of water resource data collection and |
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dissemination as necessary to ensure that basic water resource data |
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are maintained and available for Texas; and |
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(10) make basic data and summary information developed |
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under this subsection accessible to state agencies and other |
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interested persons. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 16.026 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 16.026. TEXMESONET HYDROMETEOROLOGY NETWORK; |
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TEXMESONET ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this section, "network" |
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means the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network. |
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(b) The executive administrator shall establish the |
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TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network to provide a statewide |
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resource for hydrometeorological data and summary information |
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benefiting weather forecasting, flood preparedness, drought |
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monitoring, wildfire management, water resources planning, water |
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conservation, agricultural readiness and productivity, industrial |
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readiness, and related business readiness and productivity across |
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this state. |
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(c) The network shall: |
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(1) establish a series of stations throughout this |
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state to monitor hydrometeorological conditions; |
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(2) coordinate mesoscale, evapotranspiration, and |
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soil moisture monitoring efforts in this state by: |
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(A) collecting, receiving, analyzing, |
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processing, and facilitating access to basic hydrometeorological |
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data; and |
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(B) developing and disseminating products, |
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tools, and summary information related to that data; |
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(3) serve as the centralized repository for |
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hydrometeorological data in this state; and |
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(4) provide appropriate technical assistance related |
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to the duties described by Subdivisions (1)-(3). |
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(d) The executive administrator may, on behalf of the |
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network, enter into: |
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(1) any agreement with an individual or a federal, |
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state, or local governmental entity to provide site location and |
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access for earth observation stations; and |
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(2) a partnership with a public or private entity to |
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provide additional funding and resources for improved access to and |
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development of hydrometeorological data, products, and tools. |
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(e) Each state agency or political subdivision of this state |
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that collects hydrometeorological information, including public |
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institutions of higher education, shall cooperate with the network |
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in the development of a coordinated, efficient, and effective |
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statewide hydrometeorological data collection and dissemination |
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resource. |
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(f) The executive administrator may establish the |
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TexMesonet Advisory Committee to advise and make recommendations to |
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the executive administrator on ensuring data quality and optimizing |
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the efficiency and effectiveness of hydrometeorological data |
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collection, product development, and dissemination of data and |
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information. Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee. Members |
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of the advisory committee serve without compensation but are |
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entitled to reimbursement for actual or necessary expenses incurred |
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in performing functions as a member of the advisory committee |
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subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by |
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the General Appropriations Act. The committee may include members |
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representing the following entities or interest groups: |
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(1) the office of the state climatologist; |
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(2) the National Weather Service; |
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(3) existing hydrometeorological networks; and |
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(4) other appropriate entities. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |