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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study regarding the creation of dunes on the gulf |
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coast for storm surge protection. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "office" means the |
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General Land Office. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) The office shall conduct a study |
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regarding: |
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(1) the authority of federal, state, and local |
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governmental entities to create a line of dunes on privately and |
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publicly owned portions of the Gulf Coast to protect gulf beaches |
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from storm surge damage; |
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(2) the effect of state statutes, rules, and court |
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decisions on the ability of governmental entities and owners of |
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beachfront property to protect gulf beaches from storm surge |
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damage; |
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(3) financial resources available to support the |
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creation of storm surge dunes; |
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(4) the costs and benefits of creating storm surge |
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dunes; and |
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(5) the costs and benefits of the granting by owners of |
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beachfront property to governmental entities of easements for the |
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creation of storm surge dunes. |
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(b) The office may contract with any appropriate person to |
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assist the office in conducting the study under this section. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than December 31, 2014, the |
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office shall report the results of the study conducted under this |
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Act to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and the standing committees in the senate |
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and the house of representatives that have primary jurisdiction |
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over natural resources. The report may include the office's |
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recommendations for legislation to address any areas of concern. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2015. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |