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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the atmosphere modification research |
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program and center. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 50C to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50C. ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH |
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SUBCHAPTER A. ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH PROGRAM |
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Sec. 50C.001. PURPOSE. The atmosphere modification |
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research program is established to increase understanding of |
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precipitation and the ability to control precipitation to decrease |
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the damaging effects of drought, hail, and flooding on the |
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environment and man-made structures. |
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Sec. 50C.002. PARTICIPATION. The atmosphere modification |
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research program is a competitive research grant program for |
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faculty researchers at Texas public and private institutions of |
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higher education with expertise in weather modification or an |
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atmospheric science. |
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Sec. 50C.003. ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM. The department |
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shall: |
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(1) administer the atmosphere modification research |
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program; |
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(2) administer grants for research under the program; |
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(3) select research proposals submitted for |
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participation in the program by a peer review process; |
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(4) give preference to multi-institutional and |
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multidisciplinary proposals and proposals with federal or private |
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matching funds; and |
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(5) adopt rules for the implementation and |
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administration of the program. |
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Sec. 50C.004. DURATION OF GRANT. A grant made by the |
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department under this chapter shall be for a period of five years |
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and, subject to department review, may be extended for a period of |
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not more than two years. |
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Sec. 50C.005. REPORT. Not later than October 31 of each |
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year, a participant in the atmosphere modification research program |
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must file with the department an annual report detailing the |
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progress of the participant's project. |
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Sec. 50C.006. EVALUATION OF PROGRAM. The department shall |
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cause an independent evaluation of the atmosphere modification |
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research program to be conducted by a team of experts not associated |
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with the program or the department during the second year after the |
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program is created and every two years thereafter. |
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[Sections 50C.007-50C.050 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER B. ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH CENTER |
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Sec. 50C.051. PURPOSE. The department shall establish an |
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atmosphere modification research center at Texas Tech University to |
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conduct basic and applied research designed to increase |
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understanding of precipitation and the ability to control |
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precipitation to decrease the damaging effects of drought, hail, |
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and flooding on the environment and man-made structures. |
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Sec. 50C.052. PUBLIC FORUM. The atmosphere modification |
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research center must provide a public forum to disseminate research |
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findings and recommendations and to obtain comments from state and |
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local government agencies, business entities, and citizens. |
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Sec. 50C.053. ATMOSPHERE MODIFICATION RESEARCH CENTER |
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FUND. (a) The atmosphere modification research center fund is |
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created as a trust fund with the comptroller and shall be |
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administered by the department as a trustee on behalf of the center. |
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The fund is composed of: |
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(1) gifts, grants, and other donations received by the |
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department for the fund; |
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(2) revenue from operation of the center; and |
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(3) until September 1, 2013, any amounts appropriated |
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by the legislature for deposit to the credit of the fund from the |
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general revenue fund, and after that date, an amount appropriated |
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by the legislature for deposit to the credit of the fund from the |
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general revenue fund that does not exceed nonstate funding. |
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(b) Money in the atmosphere modification research center |
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fund may be used only to finance the atmosphere modification |
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research of the center. |
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Sec. 50C.054. DIRECTOR; STAFF. (a) The department shall |
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select a director for the atmosphere modification research center |
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from among the faculty at Texas Tech University. |
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(b) The center shall be staffed by Texas Tech University |
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faculty members, research professionals, students, and other |
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personnel as determined by the department. |
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Sec. 50C.055. SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD. (a) The |
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department shall establish a scientific advisory board to advise |
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the atmosphere modification research center on research |
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priorities, guidelines, and procedures. |
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(b) The board shall establish and review metrics to assess |
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the effectiveness of the center's research projects. |
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Sec. 50C.056. REPORT. The atmosphere modification research |
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center shall file annually with the department and the legislature |
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a report detailing the center's activities, findings, and |
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recommendations. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |