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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study by the Geo-Technology Research Institute on the |
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monitoring, prevention, and removal of floating trash. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STUDY. (a) In this section, "floating trash" |
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means human-made trash or debris floating on the waterways of this |
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state. |
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(b) The Geo-Technology Research Institute shall conduct a |
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two-year study on the monitoring, prevention, and removal of |
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floating trash and submit a report of the institute's findings to |
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the 86th Legislature. The report must include: |
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(1) summaries of statutes governing, entities |
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responsible for, and practices for compliance with laws and |
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policies governing the prevention and removal of floating trash; |
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(2) a baseline database developed using available |
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agency resources that contains information on the extent of |
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floating trash, identifying the sources of and any gaps in the data |
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contained in the database; |
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(3) a list of model programs in this state and in other |
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states for the prevention and removal of floating trash; |
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(4) an assessment of the technical and economic |
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feasibility of potential new programs for the prevention and |
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removal of floating trash; and |
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(5) recommendations for: |
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(A) state and municipal goals for the prevention |
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and removal of floating trash; |
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(B) technical assistance required for achieving |
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the goals listed in Paragraph (A); and |
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(C) monitoring and outreach programs for the |
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prevention and removal of floating trash. |
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(c) The Geo-Technology Research Institute shall submit to |
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the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives the report described by Subsection (b) of this |
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section not later than January 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 2. EXPIRATION. This Act expires February 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 3. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2017. |