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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Rural Water Advisory Council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 50D to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50D. TEXAS RURAL WATER ADVISORY COUNCIL |
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Sec. 50D.0101. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "council" |
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means the Texas Rural Water Advisory Council. |
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Sec. 50D.0102. COMPOSITION. (a) The council is composed of |
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15 members appointed as follows: |
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(1) the executive director or the executive director's |
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designee of the following entities shall appoint a representative |
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for that entity: |
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(A) the Parks and Wildlife Department; |
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(B) the Texas Commission on Environmental |
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Quality; |
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(C) the Texas Department of Transportation; and |
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(D) the State Soil and Water Conservation Board; |
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(2) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture |
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shall appoint a representative of that agency from the Office of |
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Water; |
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(3) the commissioner of the General Land Office shall |
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appoint a representative of that agency; |
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(4) the lieutenant governor shall appoint three |
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members with each member to represent one of the following: |
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(A) a rural county; |
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(B) an irrigation district; and |
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(C) a statewide nonprofit organization that |
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represents the interests of water supply corporations and other |
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rural water utilities; |
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(5) the commissioner shall appoint three members with |
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each member representing an interest or issue under consideration |
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by the council and with the initial three members each representing |
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one of the following: |
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(A) the interests of pesticide applicators; |
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(B) the interests of a statewide nonprofit |
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organization focused on litter prevention, mitigation, and |
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abatement; and |
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(C) the interests of agricultural landowners; |
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and |
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(6) the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint three members with each member to represent one of the |
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following: |
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(A) a rural municipality; |
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(B) a river authority; and |
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(C) a drainage district. |
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(b) The council shall elect a presiding officer from among |
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its members. |
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(c) Members of the council serve staggered terms of two |
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years, with either seven or eight members' terms, as applicable, |
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expiring February 1 of each year. |
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(d) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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size, composition, or duration of the council. |
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(e) Service on the council by a state officer or employee is |
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an additional duty of the member's office or employment. Members of |
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the board are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of |
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expenses. |
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(f) The council may accept gifts and grants from any source |
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to be used to carry out a function of the council. |
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Sec. 50D.0103. DUTIES. On an ongoing basis, the council |
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shall assist the department in assessing the existence of, |
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effectiveness of, or need for rural water initiatives in this state |
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regarding the prevention, mitigation, and abatement of windblown |
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and waterborne litter and illegal dumping in rural communities, |
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pesticide runoff from agricultural lands, rainwater harvesting, |
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rural water use, and other topics as requested by the department by: |
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(1) identifying and evaluating best management |
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practices for municipal, commercial, industrial, and agricultural |
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properties as they relate to the water initiatives assessed by this |
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section, including the feasibility, costs, and benefits of those |
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practices; and |
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(2) evaluating: |
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(A) the feasibility and implementation needs of |
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best management practices in different regions of the state; |
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(B) the jurisdiction and effectiveness of law |
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enforcement; |
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(C) the role of state funding for incentive |
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programs; and |
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(D) the appropriate state oversight and |
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community support efforts. |
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Sec. 50D.0104. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least |
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twice each year and may meet at other times considered necessary by |
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the commissioner. |
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Sec. 50D.0105. STAFF. The council is administratively |
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attached to the Office of Water within the department. The |
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department shall provide the council with the staff necessary to |
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carry out the council's duties under this chapter. |
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Sec. 50D.0106. ASSISTANCE OF STATE AGENCIES. On request by |
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the council, a state agency shall provide assistance to the |
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council, including necessary support staff. |
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Sec. 50D.0107. BEST PRACTICES GUIDE AND REPORT TO |
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LEGISLATURE. (a) Not later than November 1 of each even-numbered |
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year, the council shall: |
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(1) publish a best management practices guide for use |
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by state agencies and counties, municipalities, and other political |
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subdivisions responsible for initiatives identified and assessed |
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by the council, including information on potential funding sources; |
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and |
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(2) make a report to the lieutenant governor, the |
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speaker of the house of representatives, and the legislative |
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committees with primary jurisdiction over the issues described in |
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the report. |
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(b) The report under Subsection (a) must include |
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recommendations on additional legislative action, if any, that is |
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needed to implement the recommended best management practices. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |