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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the feasibility of creating and maintaining a coastal |
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barrier system. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The legislature shall establish a joint |
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interim committee to continue to study the feasibility and |
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desirability of creating and maintaining a coastal barrier system |
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in this state that includes a series of gates and barriers to |
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prevent storm surge damage to gulf beaches or coastal ports, |
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industry, or property. |
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(b) The committee is composed of: |
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(1) the members of the standing committee of the |
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senate that has primary jurisdiction over natural resources; |
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(2) the members of the standing committee of the house |
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of representatives that has primary jurisdiction over land and |
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resource management; |
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(3) two members of the senate appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor, each of whom represents a district in a county |
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that borders the Gulf of Mexico; and |
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(4) two members of the house of representatives |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, each of |
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whom represents a district in a county that borders the Gulf of |
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Mexico. |
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(c) The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of |
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representatives shall jointly designate a chair or, alternatively, |
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designate two co-chairs from among the committee membership. |
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(d) The committee may adopt rules necessary to carry out the |
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committee's duties under this section. |
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(e) Not later than December 1, 2020, the committee shall |
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report to the governor and the legislature the findings of the study |
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and any recommendations developed by the committee under this |
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section. |
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(f) The committee is abolished and this Act expires January |
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11, 2021. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect June 1, 2019, if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that |
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date, this Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |