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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 Native Seeds Committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 50E to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50E. TEXAS NATIVE SEEDS COMMITTEE |
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Sec. 50E.001. PURPOSE. The purpose of the Texas Native |
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Seeds Committee is to develop a 10-year master plan to increase: |
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(1) the production of native seeds; and |
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(2) the use of native seeds in restoration projects on |
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public lands. |
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Sec. 50E.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Committee" means the Texas Native Seeds |
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Committee. |
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(2) "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. 50E.003. COMPOSITION. (a) The committee is composed |
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of the following 12 members: |
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(1) the commissioner of agriculture or the |
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commissioner's designee; |
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(2) the executive director of the Texas Department of |
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Transportation or the executive director's designee; |
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(3) one member of the public appointed by the speaker |
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of the house of representatives; |
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(4) one member of the public appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(5) two members of the public appointed by the |
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governor; |
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(6) one member from the Parks and Wildlife Department; |
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(7) one member from the Texas Seed Trade Association; |
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(8) the chair of the Senate Committee on Natural |
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Resources; |
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(9) the chair of the House Committee on Natural |
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Resources; |
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(10) one member representing an institution of higher |
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education appointed by the other members of the committee; and |
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(11) one member representing a conservation and |
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education advocacy organization appointed by the speaker of the |
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house of representatives. |
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(b) The chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources |
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serves as the presiding officer of the committee. |
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Sec. 50E.004. MASTER PLAN. (a) The committee shall develop |
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a 10-year master plan for the state: |
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(1) to use native seeds in restoration projects on |
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public lands; |
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(2) to identify native plant seed sources that would |
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easily adapt to diverse regions of the state; and |
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(3) to ensure seed sources become commercially |
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available at reasonable cost and in adequate supply. |
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(b) The committee shall submit the master plan to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives not later than December 1, 2014. |
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Sec. 50E.005. MEETINGS. (a) The committee shall meet at |
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the call of the presiding officer and may hold additional meetings |
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by telephone conference call if necessary. |
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(b) Section 551.125, Government Code, applies to a meeting |
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held by telephone conference call under this section, except that |
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Subsection (b) of that section does not apply. |
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(c) The chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources |
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or the chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources may hold |
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the meeting called by the presiding officer. |
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Sec. 50E.006. PUBLIC HEARINGS. The committee shall hold at |
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least three public hearings in locations that the committee chooses |
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to afford interested persons an opportunity to appear and present |
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views on any subject relating to the committee's powers and duties |
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under this chapter. |
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Sec. 50E.007. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. A member of the |
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committee may not receive compensation for service on the |
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committee. Subject to availability of funds, a committee member |
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may receive reimbursement for the actual and necessary expenses |
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incurred while conducting committee business. |
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Sec. 50E.008. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires and the |
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committee is abolished December 2, 2014. |
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SECTION 2. (a) Not later than December 1, 2013, the |
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designated appointing officials shall appoint the members to the |
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Texas Native Seeds Committee as provided by Sections |
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50E.003(a)(1)-(7) and (11), Agriculture Code, as added by this Act. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Texas Native Seeds |
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Committee shall appoint a representative of an institution of |
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higher education to serve on the committee as provided by Section |
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50E.003(a)(10), Agriculture Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |