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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 governor's broadband development |
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council. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 490H to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 490H. GOVERNOR'S BROADBAND DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL |
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Sec. 490H.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Broadband" means a service that provides advanced |
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telecommunications capability and Internet access. |
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(2) "Council" means the governor's broadband |
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development council. |
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(3) "Unserved area" means a census block without |
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access to broadband capable of providing: |
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(A) a download speed of at least 25 megabits per |
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second; and |
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(B) an upload speed of at least three megabits |
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per second. |
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Sec. 490H.002. COMPOSITION. (a) The council is composed of |
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the following 17 voting members: |
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(1) two representatives of unaffiliated Internet |
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service providers, including at least one representative of a small |
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provider, as defined by Section 56.032, Utilities Code, appointed |
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by the governor; |
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(2) one representative of the health information |
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technology industry, appointed by the governor; |
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(3) two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit |
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organizations that advocate for elderly persons statewide, |
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appointed by the governor; |
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(4) two representatives of unaffiliated nonprofit |
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organizations that have a demonstrated history of working with the |
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legislature and the public to identify solutions for expanding |
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broadband to rural, unserved areas of this state, appointed by the |
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governor; |
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(5) one representative of an agricultural advocacy |
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organization in this state, appointed by the governor; |
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(6) one representative of a hospital advocacy |
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organization in this state, appointed by the governor; |
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(7) one representative of a medical advocacy |
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organization in this state, appointed by the governor; |
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(8) one county official who serves in an elected |
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office of a county with a population of less than 35,000, appointed |
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by the governor; |
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(9) one municipal official who serves in an elected |
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office of a municipality with a population of less than 20,000 |
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located in a county with a population of less than 60,000, appointed |
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by the governor; |
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(10) one representative of an institution of higher |
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education that has its main campus in a county with a population of |
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less than 60,000, appointed by the governor; |
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(11) one representative of a school district with a |
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territory that includes only counties with a population of less |
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than 60,000, appointed by the governor; |
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(12) one representative from a library association, |
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appointed by the governor; |
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(13) one member of the house of representatives, |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(14) one state senator, appointed by the lieutenant |
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governor. |
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(b) A member of the council appointed under Subsection (a) |
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serves for a five-year term. |
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(c) A vacancy on the council is filled in the same manner as |
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the original appointment. |
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Sec. 490H.003. COUNCIL PRESIDING OFFICER. The governor |
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shall designate the presiding officer of the council. |
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Sec. 490H.004. MEETINGS. (a) The council shall convene at |
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least once every quarter. |
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(b) The council shall convene at the call of the presiding |
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officer. |
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Sec. 490H.005. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. The office of the |
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governor shall provide administrative support to the council. |
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Sec. 490H.006. DUTIES. (a) The council shall: |
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(1) research the progress of broadband development in |
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unserved areas; |
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(2) identify barriers to residential and commercial |
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broadband deployment in unserved areas; |
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(3) study technology-neutral solutions to overcome |
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barriers identified under Subdivision (2); and |
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(4) analyze how statewide access to broadband would |
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benefit: |
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(A) economic development; |
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(B) the delivery of educational opportunities in |
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higher education and public education; |
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(C) state and local law enforcement; |
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(D) state emergency preparedness; and |
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(E) the delivery of health care services, |
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including telemedicine and telehealth. |
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(b) The council may research another matter related to |
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broadband only if a majority of the council approves researching |
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the matter. |
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(c) For the purpose of performing its duties under this |
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section, the council may consult with a representative of an |
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institution of higher education who has published scholarly |
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research on broadband. |
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Sec. 490H.007. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than November 1 of |
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each year, the council shall prepare and deliver an electronic |
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report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature. |
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Sec. 490H.008. EXPIRATION. This chapter expires September |
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1, 2029. |
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SECTION 2. The first report described by Section 490H.007, |
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Government Code, as added by this Act, is due November 1, 2020. |
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SECTION 3. 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, 2019. |