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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment and operation of a severe storm |
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research and planning center. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 3, Education Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 155 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 155. SEVERE STORM RESEARCH AND PLANNING CENTER |
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Sec. 155.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Center" means the severe storm research and |
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planning center. |
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(2) "Commission" means the regional planning |
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commission, council of governments, or similar regional planning |
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agency created under Chapter 391, Local Government Code, whose |
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membership includes the most populous county that borders on the |
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Gulf of Mexico or on a bay or inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. |
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Sec. 155.002. ESTABLISHMENT; PURPOSE. The commission shall |
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create a severe storm research and planning center to facilitate |
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research and develop plans, programs, and technology associated |
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with the impact of and response to hurricanes and other severe |
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storms in the Gulf Coast Region and adjacent areas, including: |
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(1) the development of real-time storm surge |
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forecasting ability for hurricanes and other severe storms; |
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(2) the development of radar-based rainfall and flood |
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warning systems for urban and coastal areas; |
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(3) the development of public education programs |
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relating to compliance with government-initiated evacuation |
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orders; |
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(4) the assessment of infrastructure risks; and |
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(5) the development of evacuation plans. |
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Sec. 155.003. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The commission shall |
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administer the center. |
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(b) The commission shall appoint an advisory committee to |
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advise the commission regarding the development of priorities, |
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guidelines, and procedures for the implementation of this chapter. |
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The advisory committee must include representatives of: |
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(1) Rice University; |
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(2) the University of Houston; |
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(3) The University of Texas at Austin; |
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(4) Texas A&M University; |
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(5) Texas A&M University at Galveston; |
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(6) Texas Southern University; |
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(7) The University of Texas at Brownsville; |
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(8) regional planning commissions, councils of |
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governments, or similar regional planning agencies created under |
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Chapter 391, Local Government Code, whose membership includes a |
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municipality or county located in the Gulf Coast Region; |
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(9) engineering and construction firms associated |
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with public works contracts; and |
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(10) the medical profession in a major urban area |
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located in the Gulf Coast Region. |
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(c) The commission and advisory committee may cooperate, |
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coordinate, and share information with a governmental entity or |
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postsecondary educational institution in another state that |
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borders the Gulf of Mexico. |
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(d) The commission, in consultation with the advisory |
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committee, shall adopt guidelines and procedures for the |
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administration of this chapter. |
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Sec. 155.004. CONTRACT. To the extent funding is available |
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and for the purpose of operating, managing, and providing services |
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or facilities for the center, the commission shall contract with a |
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private postsecondary educational institution that: |
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(1) is a member of the Association of American |
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Universities; |
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(2) has an enrollment of at least 3,000 students; and |
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(3) is located in a municipality in the Gulf Coast |
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Region with a population of 1.8 million or more. |
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Sec. 155.005. FUNDING. (a) The commission may receive |
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state-appropriated funds for the purpose of supporting the |
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activities of the center. |
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(b) The commission may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and |
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donations for purposes of this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |
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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. 1493 was passed by the House on May 9, |
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2007, by the following vote: Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1493 was passed by the Senate on May |
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23, 2007, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 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 |