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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to increasing public awareness of the benefits of native |
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plant species and problems associated with invasive plant species. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 71, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 71.061 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 71.061. NATIVE AND INVASIVE PLANT AWARENESS. (a) In |
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this section, "nursery" means a location required under Section |
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71.043 to be registered by a nursery owner. |
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(b) A nursery that maintains a permanent storefront for |
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purposes of selling or leasing, offering for sale or lease, or |
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otherwise distributing nursery products to the public shall: |
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(1) access the Internet website of the Parks and |
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Wildlife Department; |
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(2) print the sign required by Section 12.0105, Parks |
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and Wildlife Code, to be maintained on that website; and |
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(3) post the sign in a conspicuous location where it is |
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readily visible to customers. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife |
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Code, is amended by adding Section 12.0105 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.0105. INFORMATION ON NATIVE AND INVASIVE PLANT |
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SPECIES. (a) The department shall develop and maintain on the |
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department's Internet website a brochure describing the benefits of |
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native plant species and the problems associated with invasive |
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plant species. |
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(b) The department shall also maintain on the department's |
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Internet website a downloadable, printable sign that contains the |
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following wording in at least 14-point type: |
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DO YOU KNOW YOU HAVE MANY LANDSCAPING CHOICES? |
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SOME PLANTS, ALTHOUGH LEGAL TO BUY AND SELL, MAY HAVE |
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NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON NATIVE WILDLIFE AND ECOSYSTEMS. FOR MORE |
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INFORMATION ABOUT PLANTS THAT ARE BENEFICIAL TO OUR TEXAS WILDLIFE |
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AND HABITAT AS WELL AS INVASIVE EXOTIC PLANTS, PLEASE VISIT THE |
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TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE AT (insert |
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appropriate Internet website address). |
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SECTION 3. Not later than October 1, 2009, the Parks and |
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Wildlife Department shall post the sign required by Section |
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12.0105, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, on the |
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department's Internet website. |
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SECTION 4. The department shall send a notice to each |
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nursery owner that, on September 1, 2009, holds one or more |
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registrations under Subchapter B, Chapter 71, Agriculture Code, |
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that informs the nursery owner of the requirements of Section |
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71.061, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act, and the requirement |
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that a nursery comply with that section not later than January 1, |
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2010. |
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SECTION 5. Section 71.061, Agriculture Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies only to a nursery beginning January 1, 2010. |
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SECTION 6. 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, 2009. |