84R2885 AAF-F
 
  By: Márquez H.B. No. 1088
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Technical Center for
  Innovative Desalination at The University of Texas at El Paso in
  partnership with The University of Texas at San Antonio.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 69, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter C to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER C. TEXAS TECHNICAL CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE
  DESALINATION
         Sec. 69.51.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "center" means
  the Texas Technical Center for Innovative Desalination established
  under this subchapter.
         Sec. 69.52.  ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Technical Center
  for Innovative Desalination is established as a joint partnership
  of The University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at
  San Antonio.
         (b)  The organization, control, and management of the center
  are vested in the board.  The University of Texas at El Paso shall
  administer the programs of the center.
         (c)  The center shall operate through The University of Texas
  at El Paso's College of Engineering and The University of Texas at
  San Antonio's College of Engineering. Participation in the
  center's activities shall be open to any faculty member of either
  university who is an active researcher in the field of water
  desalination, engineering, hydrology, biology, water supply
  development, energy efficiency, materials management, or another
  relevant field as determined by the board.
         Sec. 69.53.  PURPOSE. The center is created to:
               (1)  promote interdisciplinary research, education,
  and training for the development of state-of-the-art products,
  materials, systems, and technologies designed for the desalination
  of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish water within
  surface and groundwater resources throughout the state;
               (2)  develop cost-effective, energy-efficient, and
  environmentally sound water desalination, brine disposal, and
  water conveyance technologies that can enhance the potential for
  desalinated water to contribute toward the state's long-term water
  portfolio; and
               (3)  develop and make available pertinent technical,
  legal, and policy documents to advance the public's awareness about
  the cost, usefulness, and applications of water desalination.
         Sec. 69.54.  POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall:
               (1)  collaborate with appropriate international,
  federal, state, and local agencies and private business or
  nonprofit entities as necessary to develop innovative desalination
  technologies;
               (2)  research and develop innovative seawater and
  brackish water desalination technologies, including pretreatment
  technologies and improvements, that:
                     (A)  are cost effective and energy efficient;
                     (B)  minimize environmental impacts; and
                     (C)  offer long-term water supply solutions for
  the state;
               (3)  research and develop innovative concentrate and
  brine disposal methods and technologies that ensure responsible
  environmental stewardship and create commercial markets for
  by-products;
               (4)  research and develop water conveyance systems and
  technologies that may be used to transport desalinated water to
  target use populations;
               (5)  develop test facilities for evaluating the
  performance of new products, materials, or techniques;
               (6)  develop specifications and standards for products
  used for desalinating water, conveying water, and disposing of
  concentrate or brine;
               (7)  provide public information, education, and
  outreach regarding desalination technologies and appropriate uses
  and conservation methods for desalinated water;
               (8)  provide data, recommendations, and any other
  information necessary relating to desalination for local,
  regional, or statewide water planning programs and processes;
               (9)  organize and host seminars and conferences
  educating water utilities, educators, regulatory agencies, and
  private entities on the center's work; 
               (10)  research and develop brackish water systems that: 
                     (A)  are water and energy efficient; and 
                     (B)  could meet the demands of numerous small and
  rural communities in the state; and
               (11)  advise state and federal agencies on the
  inventory of the state's brackish water resources, including
  brackish water resources located near the Texas-Mexico border.
         Sec. 69.55.  COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The
  University of Texas at El Paso and The University of Texas at San
  Antonio shall encourage public, private, and nonprofit entities to
  participate in or support the operation of the center and may enter
  into an agreement with any public, private, or nonprofit entity for
  that purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide
  information, services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange
  for the entity's participation or support.  The center shall
  solicit active participation by researchers at other universities
  and laboratories for the purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 69.56.  GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board shall solicit,
  accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private
  source, including local, state, and federal agencies, for the
  purposes of this subchapter.
         Sec. 69.57.  PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel for
  the center as the board considers necessary.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2015.