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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study of economically recyclable materials, economic |
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impacts to the state and local governments of existing and |
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increased recycling, the development of new markets for recycled |
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materials and any infrastructure needs, and the potential to |
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increase state revenues. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In the Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(2) "Recycling" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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361.421, Health and Safety Code. |
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SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The commission |
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shall convene an advisory committee established under Chapter 361, |
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Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The commission through the advisory committee shall |
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conduct a study quantifying the amount of materials currently being |
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recycled, economic impacts including lost state and local revenues |
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from the materials that are not being recycled, and to identify ways |
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to develop new markets to increase recycling. The study must: |
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(1) assess current recycling efforts and identify ways |
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in which the private and public sectors can improve and increase |
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those efforts; |
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(2) Identify new markets and business that may be |
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available from existing and increased recycling of materials; |
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(3) investigate available and new funding for efforts |
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that are identified; |
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(4) assess current associated jobs and additional job |
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creation opportunities with existing and increased recycling; and |
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(5) assess rural infrastructure needs and development |
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opportunities. |
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(c) The advisory committee shall prepare a written report on |
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the results of the study, and submit the report to the commission |
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for inclusion into the Municipal Solid Waste Annual Summary Report. |
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SECTION 5. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2017. |
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SECTION 6. 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, 2015. |