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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 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 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 council. |
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Sec. 490H.002. COMPOSITION. (a) The council is composed of |
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the following 15 voting members: |
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(1) two representatives of unaffiliated Internet |
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service providers, appointed by the governor; |
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(2) one representative of a nonprofit organization |
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that advocates for elderly persons statewide, appointed by the |
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governor; |
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(3) 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 and underserved areas of this state, appointed |
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by the governor; |
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(4) one representative of an agricultural advocacy |
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organization in this state, appointed by the governor; |
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(5) one representative of a hospital advocacy |
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organization in this state, appointed by the governor; |
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(6) one representative of a medical advocacy |
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organization in this state, appointed by the governor; |
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(7) 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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(8) 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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(9) one representative of an institution of higher |
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education who has published scholarly research on broadband, |
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appointed by the governor; |
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(10) two members of the house of representatives, |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and |
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(11) two state senators, 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 AND MEETINGS. The |
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governor 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 governor's |
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office shall provide administrative support to the council. |
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Sec. 490H.006. DUTIES. The council shall: |
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(1) research the past and present development of |
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broadband in areas that are currently underserved and unserved with |
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broadband; |
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(2) identify barriers to residential and commercial |
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broadband access in this state and to broadband development in this |
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state and study solutions to overcome identified barriers; and |
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(3) 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; and |
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(F) any other matter related to the subject of |
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broadband that a majority of the council members deem appropriate |
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to research. |
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Sec. 490H.007. ANNUAL REPORT. Not later than November 1 of |
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each year, beginning in 2020, the council shall prepare and deliver |
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a report in electronic format of its findings and recommendations |
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to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the |
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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. 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. |