By Wentworth                                          S.B. No. 1627
         77R8922 JMG-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the creation of the atmosphere modification research
 1-3     program and center.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
 1-6     Chapter 50A to read as follows:
 1-7               CHAPTER 50A.  ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH
 1-8           SUBCHAPTER A.  ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH PROGRAM
 1-9           Sec. 50A.001.  PURPOSE. The atmosphere modification research
1-10     program is established to increase understanding of precipitation
1-11     and the ability to control precipitation to decrease the damaging
1-12     effects of drought, hail, and flooding on the environment and
1-13     man-made structures.
1-14           Sec. 50A.002.  PARTICIPATION. The program is a competitive
1-15     research grant program for faculty researchers at Texas public and
1-16     private institutions of higher education with expertise in weather
1-17     modification or an atmospheric science.
1-18           Sec. 50A.003.  ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. The department
1-19     shall:
1-20                 (1)  administer the program;
1-21                 (2)  administer grants for research under the program;
1-22                 (3)  select research proposals submitted for
1-23     participation in the program by a peer review process;
1-24                 (4)  give preference to multi-institutional and
 2-1     multidisciplinary proposals and proposals with federal or private
 2-2     matching funds; and
 2-3                 (5)  adopt rules for the implementation and
 2-4     administration of the program.
 2-5           Sec. 50A.004.  DURATION OF GRANT. A grant shall be for a
 2-6     period of five years and, subject to review by the department, may
 2-7     be extended for a period of not more than two years.
 2-8           Sec. 50A.005.  REPORT. A program participant must by October
 2-9     31 of each year file with the department an annual report detailing
2-10     the progress of the participant's project.
2-11           Sec. 50A.006.  EVALUATION OF PROGRAM. The department shall
2-12     cause an independent evaluation of the program to be conducted by a
2-13     team of experts not associated with the program or the department
2-14     during the second year after the program is created and every two
2-15     years  thereafter.
2-16              (Sections 50A.007-50A.010 reserved for expansion)
2-17           SUBCHAPTER B.  ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH CENTER
2-18           Sec. 50A.011.  PURPOSE. The department shall establish an
2-19     atmosphere modification research center at Texas Tech University to
2-20     conduct basic and applied research designed to increase
2-21     understanding of precipitation and the ability to control
2-22     precipitation to decrease the damaging effects of drought, hail,
2-23     and flooding on the environment and man-made structures.
2-24           Sec. 50A.012.  PUBLIC FORUM. The center must provide a public
2-25     forum to disseminate research findings and recommendations and to
2-26     obtain comments from state and local government agencies, business
2-27     entities, and citizens.
 3-1           Sec. 50A.013.  ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH CENTER FUND.
 3-2     (a)  The atmosphere modification research center fund is created as
 3-3     a trust fund with the comptroller and shall be administered by the
 3-4     department as a trustee on behalf of the center. The fund is
 3-5     composed of:
 3-6                 (1)  gifts, grants, and other donations received by the
 3-7     department for the fund;
 3-8                 (2)  revenue from operation of the center; and
 3-9                 (3)  until September 1, 2007, any amounts appropriated
3-10     by the legislature for the fund from the general revenue fund, and
3-11     after that date, an amount appropriated by the legislature for the
3-12     fund from the general revenue fund that does not exceed nonstate
3-13     funding.
3-14           (b)  Money in the atmosphere modification research center
3-15     fund may be used only to finance atmosphere modification research
3-16     of the center.
3-17           Sec. 50A.014.  DIRECTOR; STAFF. (a)  The department shall
3-18     select a center director from among the faculty at Texas Tech
3-19     University.
3-20           (b)  The center shall be staffed by Texas Tech University
3-21     faculty members, research professionals, students, and other
3-22     personnel as determined by the department.
3-23           Sec. 50A.015.  SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD. (a)  The department
3-24     shall establish a scientific advisory board to advise the center on
3-25     research priorities, guidelines, and procedures.
3-26           (b)  The board shall establish and review metrics to assess
3-27     the effectiveness of the center's research projects.
 4-1           Sec. 50A.016.  REPORT. The center shall file annually with
 4-2     the department and the legislature a report detailing the center's
 4-3     activities, findings, and recommendations.
 4-4           SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.