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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to highway landscaping projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 392, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 392.004 and 392.005 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 392.004. NATIVE OR REGIONALLY APPROPRIATE |
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LANDSCAPING. The department shall establish guidelines for |
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beautification projects on state highway rights-of-way that |
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require the projects to use only native or regionally appropriate |
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plants. The guidelines must prioritize the use of plants that are: |
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(1) low maintenance; and |
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(2) drought resistant if used for a project located in |
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an area of this state that experiences frequent droughts. |
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Sec. 392.005. EXPENDITURES FOR HIGHWAY LANDSCAPING. (a) |
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In this section, "landscaping improvement" means: |
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(1) the planting of native or regionally appropriate |
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plants selected under the guidelines established under Section |
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392.004; or |
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(2) the preparation of the soil and installation of |
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irrigation systems for the growth of plants described by |
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Subdivision (1). |
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(b) For each contract for a highway project that is in an |
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amount of [$5] million or more, the department shall allocate money |
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for landscaping improvements to the district or districts in which |
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the project is located. If the project is located more than one |
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district, the department shall divide the allocation according to |
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the amount under the contract to be spent in each district. |
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(c) The total amount allocated for a contract under |
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Subsection (b) may not exceed: |
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(1) one percent of the total amount to be spent under |
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the contract for construction, maintenance, or improvement of the |
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highway if that total amount is less than $50 million; or |
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(2) one-half of one percent of the total amount to be |
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spent under the contract for construction, maintenance, or |
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improvement of the highway if that total amount is $50 million or |
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more. |
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(d) A district that receives an allocation under Subsection |
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(b) may spend the amount only for landscaping improvements |
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associated with: |
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(1) the highway project that is the subject of the |
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contract for which the allocation is made; or |
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(2) another highway or highway segment located in the |
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district. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |