Amend CSSB 1 in Article VII of the bill by adding the following appropriately numbered rider following the appropriations to the Texas Department of Transportation:

____. Native Seed Study and Report. (a) Out of amounts appropriated above in Strategy A.1.4, Research, the Department of Transportation shall publish a report on the demand for native seeds in this state.

(b) In this rider, "native seed" means a seed or plant found in, and naturally endemic to, ecosystems, sites, or regions in the present borders of this state, as to which the best available information indicates an indigenous nature precluding the seed's or plant's introduction or transport to this state from some other location by nonnatural conveyances. The term includes improved varieties of native seeds. Plants and seeds not meeting the definition of native are designated as "non-native".

(c) In conducting the study, the Department of Transportation shall consider:

(1) geographic, regional, or district use of specific varieties of native seed for restoration projects administered by the department, the department's contractor's, or assignees;

(2) determinations of the percentage of the department's restoration projects utilizing native seed versus non-native seed, including blends of native and non-native seed, by geographic region or district including projects performed by the department, the department's contractors or assignees;

(3) ways the department can assist in cultivating the demand for native seeds.

(4) methods for overcoming market barriers that prevent or inhibit the sale or production of native seeds;

(5) methodology and procedures whereby the department, and the department's contactors or assignees, shall forecast the future needs of native seed for restoration projects by geographic region;

(6) a review of the department's procedures and practices of blending native seeds with invasive species;

(7) a review of the department's contacts with commercial producers; and

(8) the methodology and procedures developed for forecasting the department's, and its contactors and assignees, future needs for native seed shall initially be for the years 2015 through 2020 and the department shall thenceforth maintain a five year forecast for native seed restoration project needs.

(d) Not later than December 1, 2014, the Department of Transportation shall report the results of the study to the legislature and make the report available on the department's Internet website.