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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Hurricane Center for |
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Innovative Technology at the University of Houston. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter I to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER I. TEXAS HURRICANE CENTER FOR |
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INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY |
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Sec. 111.121. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the |
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University of Houston System. |
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(2) "Center" means the Texas Hurricane Center for |
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Innovative Technology (THC-IT) established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 111.122. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Hurricane |
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Center for Innovative Technology is established at the University |
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of Houston. |
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(b) The organization, control, and management of the center |
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are vested in the board. |
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(c) The center shall be hosted by the university's College |
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of Engineering. Participation in the center's activities shall be |
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open to any faculty member of the university who is an active |
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researcher in the field of materials, nanotechnology, structural |
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engineering, designing of structures, or sensor technology, or in |
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another relevant field as determined by the university. |
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Sec. 111.123. PURPOSE. The center is created to: |
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(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education, |
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and training for the development of state-of-the-art products, |
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materials, systems, and technologies designed to mitigate the wind, |
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flooding, and storm surge damages in the built environment and |
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offshore structures caused by hurricanes in the Gulf Coast region; |
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and |
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(2) develop protocols for the fast and efficient |
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recovery of the public and private sectors, including utilities, |
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hospitals, petrochemical industries, transportation facilities, |
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offshore platforms, and municipalities and other local communities |
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following a hurricane. |
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Sec. 111.124. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall: |
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(1) collaborate with appropriate federal, state, and |
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local agencies and private business or nonprofit entities as |
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necessary to coordinate efforts before, during, and after a |
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hurricane in the Gulf Coast region; |
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(2) develop smart materials and devices for use in |
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hurricane protection and mitigation systems for real-time |
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monitoring; |
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(3) develop anchor systems for window and door |
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screens, dwellings and other buildings, pipelines, transportation |
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facilities, and other onshore and offshore structures to withstand |
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hurricanes; |
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(4) develop test facilities for evaluating the |
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performance of new products, materials, or techniques designed to |
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protect against hurricane damage; |
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(5) develop specifications and standards for products |
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used for protecting against hurricane damage; |
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(6) develop innovative protection systems to protect |
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coastlines against storm surge and other related flooding; |
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(7) design evacuation centers, houses, and other |
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structures to withstand hurricanes; |
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(8) address issues related to the evacuation of local |
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municipalities, counties, and local neighborhoods and to traffic |
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and transportation planning in the event of a hurricane or other |
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disaster; and |
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(9) provide hurricane-related educational programs, |
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seminars, conferences, and workshops to the community designed to |
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ensure safety, facilitate necessary evacuations, minimize loss of |
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life, and mitigate the destruction of property associated with |
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hurricanes. |
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Sec. 111.125. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The |
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University of Houston shall encourage public and private entities |
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to participate in or support the operation of the center and may |
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enter into an agreement with any public or private entity for that |
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purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide information, |
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services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange for the |
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entity's participation or support. |
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Sec. 111.126. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit, |
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accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private |
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source for the purposes of the center. |
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Sec. 111.127. PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel for |
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the center as necessary. |
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SECTION 2. 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. |