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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Native Seed Competitive Grant |
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Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle H, Title 6, Transportation Code, is |
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amended by adding Chapter 398 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 398. TEXAS NATIVE SEED COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 398.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "General academic teaching institution" has the |
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meaning assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(2) "Grant program" means the Texas native seed |
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competitive grant program implemented under Section 398.002. |
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(3) "Native seed" means a seed derived from a plant in |
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a particular region or ecosystem native to this state not later than |
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the 16th century. |
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Sec. 398.002. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The |
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department shall design and implement a competitive grant program |
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for general academic teaching institutions to support the |
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development of native seeds for restoration of wildlife habitat, |
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roadsides, and energy exploration sites. |
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(b) The department shall require a recipient of a |
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competitive grant to report to the department information relating |
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to best practices and performance outcomes. |
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(c) A grant recipient must obtain a seed producer license |
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under Section 62.005, Agriculture Code. |
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Sec. 398.003. COMPETITIVE GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. |
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The department shall: |
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(1) develop goals for the grant program, including |
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desired program results and descriptions of program beneficiaries; |
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(2) establish statewide evaluation criteria to |
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document grant recipient compliance with grant conditions; |
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(3) monitor compliance with the evaluation criteria |
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described by Subdivision (2) by gathering, maintaining, and |
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analyzing comprehensive data on grant program activities; |
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(4) analyze the extent to which the grant program |
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achieves the goals developed under Subdivision (1), using either |
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empirical or nonempirical evidence; and |
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(5) publish the analysis required by Subdivision (4) |
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on the department's Internet website or in any annual publication |
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the department is required by statute to publish. |
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Sec. 398.004. RULES. The department may adopt rules for the |
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administration of the grant program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |