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