By: Hinojosa S.B. No. 1418

(In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2007; March 20, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; April 11, 2007, reported favorably from Committee on Education by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 11, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment and operation of a spatial reference center at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 88, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 88.503 to read as follows:

Sec. 88.503. SPATIAL REFERENCE CENTER. (a) The board may create and operate a spatial reference center at Texas A&M University--Corpus Christi for the purpose of:

(1) facilitating the federal height modernization project for the state;

(2) conducting basic and applied research regarding elevation and geodetic and vertical datums in the state;

(3) collecting geodetic data for state mapping and control; and

(4) establishing and maintaining an official digital spatial reference system for the state, in coordination with:

(A) the United States National Geodetic Survey;

(B) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;

(C) the Texas Natural Resources Information System; and

(D) the Texas Water Development Board.

(b) The board shall adopt rules relating to the operation of the spatial reference center.

(c) The spatial reference center may solicit and accept gifts, grants, and appropriations for the purposes of this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.

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