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.