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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to establishing the Texas Water Research Program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 62.003(1), Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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(1) Except as otherwise provided by Subchapters C, D, |
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E, F, [and] G, and H, "eligible institution" means the eligible |
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agencies and institutions of higher education listed in Article |
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VII, Section 17(b), of the Constitution of Texas, and any |
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institution or agency of higher education that is later made |
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eligible to participate in the disbursement of funds pursuant to |
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Article VII, Section 17(c), of the Constitution of Texas. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 62, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Subchapter H to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER H. TEXAS WATER RESEARCH PROGRAM |
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Sec. 62.151. PURPOSE. The Texas Water Research Program is |
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established to support and incentivize: |
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(1) research by eligible institutions regarding |
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innovative water conservation and reuse programs aimed at |
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increasing the viable water supply in this state and decreasing the |
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cost of new technologies; and |
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(2) public policy research by eligible institutions on |
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the existing water policy regulatory framework aimed at identifying |
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and making recommendations for improvements and clarifications to |
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state law and administrative rules. |
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Sec. 62.152. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Eligible institution" means an institution of |
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higher education that: |
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(A) is designated as a research university or an |
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emerging research university under the coordinating board's |
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accountability system; or |
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(B) is determined by the Texas Water Development |
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Board as having the ability to successfully complete a research |
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proposal submitted for funding under the program. |
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(2) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(3) "Program" means the Texas Water Research Program. |
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Sec. 62.153. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. The coordinating |
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board, in collaboration with the Texas Water Development Board, |
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shall develop and administer the Texas Water Research Program in |
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accordance with this subchapter to provide annual grants to |
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eligible institutions for research proposals selected by the Texas |
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Water Development Board as best serving the purposes of the |
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program. |
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Sec. 62.154. FUNDING. (a) The program is funded from the |
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amounts appropriated or transferred to the credit of the program |
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under this section or other law. |
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(b) The coordinating board may accept gifts or grants from |
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any public or private source for the program. |
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Sec. 62.155. RULES. (a) The coordinating board shall adopt |
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rules for the administration of this subchapter. |
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(b) The Texas Water Development Board shall adopt rules for |
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the merit-based selection by the board of grant recipients under |
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the program, including rules establishing the metrics by which |
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research proposals will be measured in that selection process. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |