81R5987 TRH-F
 
  By: Bonnen H.B. No. 2074
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the designation by the commissioner of the General Land
  Office of critical coastal erosion areas for purposes of the
  coastal erosion response plan.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 33.602, Natural Resources Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (e) to
  read as follows:
         (b)  The commissioner shall publish and periodically update
  a coastal erosion response plan. The commissioner shall develop
  the plan in coordination with state and federal agencies and local
  governments and provide for public input on the plan. The plan must
  identify critical coastal erosion areas designated by the
  commissioner and prioritize coastal erosion response studies and
  projects so that:
               (1)  benefits are balanced among areas throughout the
  coast designated by the commissioner as critical coastal erosion
  areas;
               (2)  federal and local financial participation is
  maximized;
               (3)  studies and projects are scheduled to achieve
  efficiencies and economies of scale; and
               (4)  the severity of erosion effects in each area is
  taken into account.
         (e)  In order to determine which areas should be designated
  as critical coastal erosion areas and guide the allocation of
  resources, the commissioner may conduct a coast-wide analysis of
  the costs and benefits of coastal erosion avoidance, remediation,
  and planning. An analysis conducted under this subsection may
  consider:
               (1)  historical erosion rates in an area;
               (2)  the elevation of an area adjacent to the
  shoreline;
               (3)  the presence of critical infrastructure in an area
  adjacent to the shoreline;
               (4)  the population density of an area adjacent to the
  shoreline;
               (5)  the presence of economic activity conducted in an
  area adjacent to the shoreline;
               (6)  the presence of critical natural resources in an
  area adjacent to the shoreline;
               (7)  anthropogenic contributions to erosion; and
               (8)  any other factor identified as relevant by the
  commissioner.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.