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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the operation of the strategic mapping program |
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administered by the Texas Water Development Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 16.017, Water Code, is amended to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 16.017. TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC MAPPING. (a) The |
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executive administrator shall carry out the program for topographic |
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and geologic mapping of the state. |
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(b) The executive administrator shall operate as part of the |
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Texas Natural Resources Information System a strategic mapping |
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program to acquire, store, and distribute digital, geospatial |
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information. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended |
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by adding Sections 16.023 and 16.024 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 16.023. STRATEGIC MAPPING ACCOUNT. (a) The strategic |
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mapping account is an account in the general revenue fund. The |
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account consists of: |
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(1) money directly appropriated to the board; |
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(2) money transferred by the board from other funds |
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available to the board; |
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(3) money from gifts or grants from the United States |
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government, state, regional, or local governments, educational |
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institutions, private sources, or other sources; |
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(4) proceeds from the sale of maps, data, |
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publications, and other items; and |
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(5) interest earned on the investment of money in the |
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account and depository interest allocable to the account. |
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(b) The account may be appropriated only to the board to: |
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(1) develop, administer, and implement the strategic |
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mapping program; |
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(2) provide grants to political subdivisions for |
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projects related to the development, use, and dissemination of |
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digital, geospatial information; and |
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(3) administer, implement, and operate other programs |
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of the Texas Natural Resources Information System, including: |
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(A) the operation of a Texas-Mexico border region |
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information center for the purpose of implementing Section 16.021 |
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(e)(5); |
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(B) the acquisition, storage, and distribution |
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of historical maps, photographs, and paper map products; |
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(C) the maintenance and enhancement of |
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information technology; and |
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(D) the production, storage, and distribution of |
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other digital base maps, as determined by the executive |
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administrator or a state agency that is a member of the Texas |
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Geographic Information Council. |
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(c) The board may invest, reinvest, and direct the |
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investment of any available money in the fund as provided by law for |
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the investment of money under Section 404.024, Government Code. |
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Sec. 16.024. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR DIGITAL, GEOSPATIAL |
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INFORMATION PROJECTS. (a) A political subdivision seeking a grant |
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under Section 16.023 must file an application with the board. |
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(b) An application must be filed in the manner and form |
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required by board rules. |
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(c) In reviewing an application by a political subdivision |
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for a grant, the board shall consider: |
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(1) the degree to which the political subdivision has |
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used other available resources to finance the development, use, and |
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dissemination of digital, geospatial information; |
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(2) the willingness and ability of the political |
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subdivision to develop, use, and disseminate digital, geospatial |
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information; and |
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(3) the benefits that will be gained by making the |
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grant. |
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(d) The board may approve a grant to a political subdivision |
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only if the board finds that: |
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(1) the grant will supplement rather than replace |
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money of the political subdivision; |
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(2) the public interest is served by providing the |
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grant; and |
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(3) the grant will further the state's ability to |
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gather, develop, use, and disseminate digital, geospatial |
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information. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |