84R10761 JRJ-D
 
  By: Landgraf H.B. No. 3696
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to establishing the Texas Water Research Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 62.003(1), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
               (1)  Except as otherwise provided by Subchapters C, D,
  E, F, [and] G, and H, "eligible institution" means the eligible
  agencies and institutions of higher education listed in Article
  VII, Section 17(b), of the Constitution of Texas, and any
  institution or agency of higher education that is later made
  eligible to participate in the disbursement of funds pursuant to
  Article VII, Section 17(c), of the Constitution of Texas.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 62, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter H to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER H.  TEXAS WATER RESEARCH PROGRAM
         Sec. 62.151.  PURPOSE. The Texas Water Research Program is
  established to support and incentivize:
               (1)  research by eligible institutions regarding
  innovative water conservation and reuse programs aimed at
  increasing the viable water supply in this state and decreasing the
  cost of new technologies; and
               (2)  public policy research by eligible institutions on
  the existing water policy regulatory framework aimed at identifying
  and making recommendations for improvements and clarifications to
  state law and administrative rules.
         Sec. 62.152.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Eligible institution" means an institution of
  higher education that:
                     (A)  is designated as a research university or an
  emerging research university under the coordinating board's
  accountability system; or
                     (B)  is determined by the Texas Water Development
  Board as having the ability to successfully complete a research
  proposal submitted for funding under the program.
               (2)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
               (3)  "Program" means the Texas Water Research Program.
         Sec. 62.153.  PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION. The coordinating
  board, in collaboration with the Texas Water Development Board,
  shall develop and administer the Texas Water Research Program in
  accordance with this subchapter to provide annual grants to
  eligible institutions for research proposals selected by the Texas
  Water Development Board as best serving the purposes of the
  program.
         Sec. 62.154.  FUNDING. (a) The program is funded from the
  amounts appropriated or transferred to the credit of the program
  under this section or other law.
         (b)  The coordinating board may accept gifts or grants from
  any public or private source for the program.
         Sec. 62.155.  RULES. (a)  The coordinating board shall adopt
  rules for the administration of this subchapter.
         (b)  The Texas Water Development Board shall adopt rules for
  the merit-based selection by the board of grant recipients under
  the program, including rules establishing the metrics by which
  research proposals will be measured in that selection process.
         SECTION 3.  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.