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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 Center for Innovative |
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Desalination Technology at the University of Houston in partnership |
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with The University of Texas at El Paso. |
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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 J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE |
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DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY |
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Sec. 111.131. 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 Center for Innovative |
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Desalination Technology established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 111.132. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Center for |
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Innovative Desalination Technology is established as a joint |
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partnership of the University of Houston and The University of |
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Texas at El Paso. |
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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 operate through the University of |
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Houston's College of Engineering and The University of Texas at El |
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Paso's Center for Inland Desalination Systems. Participation in |
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the center's activities shall be open to any faculty member of |
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either university who is an active researcher in the field of water |
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desalination, engineering, hydrology, biology, water supply |
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development, or energy efficiency or another relevant field as |
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determined by the board. |
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Sec. 111.133. 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 for the desalination |
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of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish water within |
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surface and groundwater resources throughout the state; and |
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(2) develop cost-effective, energy-efficient, and |
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environmentally sound water desalination, brine disposal, and |
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water conveyance technologies that can enhance the potential for |
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desalinated water to contribute toward the state's long-term water |
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portfolio. |
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Sec. 111.134. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall: |
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(1) collaborate with appropriate international, |
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federal, state, and local agencies and private business or |
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nonprofit entities as necessary to develop innovative desalination |
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technologies; |
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(2) research and develop innovative seawater and |
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brackish water desalination technologies, including pretreatment |
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technologies and improvements, that: |
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(A) are energy efficient and cost effective; |
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(B) minimize environmental impacts; and |
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(C) offer long-term water supply solutions for |
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the state; |
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(3) research and develop brine disposal methods and |
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technologies; |
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(4) research and develop water conveyance systems and |
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technologies that may be used to transport desalinated water to |
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target use populations; |
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(5) develop test facilities for evaluating the |
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performance of new products, materials, or techniques; |
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(6) develop specifications and standards for products |
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used for desalinating water, conveying water, and disposing of |
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brine; |
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(7) provide public information, education, and |
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outreach regarding desalination technologies and appropriate uses |
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and conservation methods for desalinated water; and |
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(8) provide data, recommendations, and any other |
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information necessary relating to desalination for local, |
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regional, or statewide water planning programs and processes. |
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Sec. 111.135. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The |
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University of Houston and The University of Texas at El Paso shall |
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encourage public, private, and nonprofit entities to participate in |
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or support the operation of the center and may enter into an |
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agreement with any public, private, or nonprofit 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. 111.136. 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 this subchapter. |
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Sec. 111.137. PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel |
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for the center as the board considers necessary. |
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Sec. 111.138. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires |
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September 1, 2023. |
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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, 2013. |