| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the identification and mapping of aggregate production |
|
|
operations by The University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 67, Education Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 67.73 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 67.73. IDENTIFICATION AND MAPPING OF AGGREGATE |
|
|
PRODUCTION OPERATIONS. (a) In this section, "aggregate production |
|
|
operation" has the meaning assigned by Section 28A.001, Water Code. |
|
|
(b) The bureau shall: |
|
|
(1) conduct a study to identify: |
|
|
(A) locations in this state suitable for |
|
|
aggregate production operations; and |
|
|
(B) existing land uses or planning policies of |
|
|
political subdivisions that could result in a location identified |
|
|
under Paragraph (A) becoming incompatible with use as an aggregate |
|
|
production operation; |
|
|
(2) develop and maintain a database that: |
|
|
(A) maps locations identified under Subdivision |
|
|
(1)(A) and Section 28A.052, Water Code; and |
|
|
(B) is accessible to political subdivisions; and |
|
|
(3) update the study and map described by Subdivisions |
|
|
(1) and (2) not less than once every 10 years. |
|
|
(c) In fulfilling the duties described by Subsection (b), |
|
|
the bureau may cooperate with: |
|
|
(1) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the |
|
|
Texas Water Development Board, and any other state agency, |
|
|
political subdivision, or university with access to information |
|
|
related to aggregate production operations; and |
|
|
(2) federal agencies or private entities as |
|
|
appropriate to fulfill the requirements of this section. |
|
|
(d) An agency, political subdivision, or university |
|
|
described by Subsection (c)(1) shall provide to the bureau on |
|
|
request available information as necessary to fulfill the |
|
|
requirements of this section. |
|
|
(e) The bureau may accept gifts, grants, and donations from |
|
|
sources other than the state for the purpose of implementing this |
|
|
section. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2025, The University |
|
|
of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology shall submit to the legislature |
|
|
a report that contains: |
|
|
(1) a summary of the study conducted under Section |
|
|
67.73, Education Code, as added by this Act; |
|
|
(2) a map containing the locations of aggregate |
|
|
production operations identified by Section 67.73, Education Code, |
|
|
as added by this Act; and |
|
|
(3) any recommendations for legislative action |
|
|
necessary to facilitate, if appropriate, the preservation for |
|
|
aggregate production operations the locations identified by |
|
|
Section 67.73, Education Code, as added by this Act, including any |
|
|
recommendations regarding existing land use or planning policies of |
|
|
political subdivisions. |
|
|
SECTION 3. The University of Texas Bureau of Economic |
|
|
Geology is required to implement a provision of this Act only if the |
|
|
legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If |
|
|
the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
|
|
purpose, the bureau may, but is not required to, implement a |
|
|
provision of this Act using other money available for that purpose. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |