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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 Institute for Coastal |
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Prairie Research and Education at the University of Houston. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS INSTITUTE FOR COASTAL PRAIRIE RESEARCH AND |
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EDUCATION |
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Sec. 111.141. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the |
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University of Houston System. |
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(2) "Institute" means the Texas Institute for Coastal |
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Prairie Research and Education established under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 111.142. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Institute for |
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Coastal Prairie Research and Education is established at the |
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University of Houston. |
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(b) The organization, control, and management of the |
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institute are vested in the board. |
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Sec. 111.143. POWERS AND DUTIES. The institute shall: |
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(1) conduct environmental research and education on |
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coastal prairie and prairie restoration; |
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(2) provide a setting for other entities to conduct |
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environmental research and education on coastal prairie and prairie |
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restoration; and |
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(3) provide national leadership and education |
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regarding the best methods to restore coastal prairie. |
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Sec. 111.144. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The |
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University of Houston shall encourage public or private entities to |
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participate in or support the operation of the institute and may |
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enter into an agreement with any public or private entity for that |
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purpose. An agreement may allow the institute 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. |
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Sec. 111.145. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit, |
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accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private |
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source for the purposes of the institute. |
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Sec. 111.146. PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel |
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for the institute as 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, 2017. |