MINUTES

SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, WATER & RURAL AFFAIRS

Monday, October 16, 2017

9:00 AM

New Caney, Texas

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Pursuant to a notice posted in accordance with Senate Rule 11.10 and 11.18, a public hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Water & Rural Affairs was held on Monday, October 16, 2017, at the East Montgomery County Improvement District, 21575 US-59 #200, New Caney, Texas.

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MEMBERS PRESENT:	MEMBERS ABSENT:
Senator Charles Perry, Chair	Senator José Rodríguez, Vice Chair
Senator Brandon Creighton	Senator Bob Hall
Senator Juan Hinojosa
Senator Lois Kolkhorst
Senator Borris Miles

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The chair called the meeting to order at 9:11 AM. There being a quorum present, the following business was transacted:

Other members in attendance:

Senator Paul Bettencourt

Senator Robert Nichols

The Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, made opening remarks.

The Chair called the following individuals to provide invited and public testimony on the following Hurricane Harvey interim charges (see attached witness list) :

1) Study and identify ways to improve the capacity and maintain the structure of the Addicks and

Barker Reservoirs. Report on mechanisms that would ensure the public has access to timely and

transparent release figures from reservoirs across the state.

2) Evaluate current state data-sharing standards for rainfall and stream gauges and whether

regional flood management projects and flood warnings should be hosted in a centralized location, such as a state agency web page. Determine whether a statewide real-time flood warning system could be developed and coordinated through mobile devices, TxDOT electronic signage, communication devices and whether existing local and regional forecasting infrastructure could be integrated into a centralized inclement weather forecasting system.

There being no further business, at 3:52 p.m. Senator Perry moved that the Committee stand recessed subject to the call of the chair. Without objection, it was so ordered.

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Senator Charles Perry, Chair

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Lauren Murray, Clerk