83R19454 AED-D
 
  By: Villarreal H.B. No. 1135
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a study conducted by the Texas Department of
  Transportation regarding the production of and use of native seeds.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  STUDY AND REPORT. (a) In this section, "native
  plant" and "native seed" mean a plant or a seed from a plant that is
  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 plant's
  or seed's introduction or transport to this state from some other
  location by nonnatural conveyances. The terms include improved
  varieties of native seeds. Plants and seeds that do not meet the
  definition of "native plant" or "native seed" are designated as
  "nonnative."
         (b)  The Texas Department of Transportation shall conduct a
  study based on a review of the use of native seed in projects
  related to land restoration and soil stabilization by the
  department and its contractors and assignees for the years 2008
  through 2012, and shall report the department's historic use of
  native seed by geographic region or district.
         (c)  In conducting the study and preparing the report, the
  Texas Department of Transportation shall consider:
               (1)  geographic, regional, or district use of specific
  varieties of native seed for restoration projects administered by
  the department and its contractors or assignees;
               (2)  determinations of the percentage of the
  department's restoration projects using native seed versus
  nonnative seed, including blends of native and nonnative seed, by
  geographic region or district and projects performed by the
  department and its contractors or assignees; and
               (3)  methodologies and procedures that the department
  and its contractors or assignees must use to forecast the future
  needs for native seed for restoration projects by geographic
  region.
         (d)  The Texas Department of Transportation shall develop
  methodologies and procedures for forecasting the department's and
  its contractors' and assignees' future needs for native seeds for
  the years 2015 through 2020. The department shall continue to
  maintain a five-year forecast for native seed restoration project
  needs.
         (e)  Not later than December 1, 2014, the Texas Department of
  Transportation shall report the results of the study conducted
  under this Act to the legislature and post the forecast of future
  needs for native seeds on the department's Internet website.
         SECTION 2.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
  1, 2013.