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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study and report by a public institution of higher |
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education on local and state supply chain disruptions caused by the |
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COVID-19 pandemic and ERCOT power outages. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "COVID-19" means the 2019 novel coronavirus |
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disease. |
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(2) "ERCOT power outages" means the sustained power |
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outages that occurred in February 2021 within the power region of |
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the Electric Reliability Council of Texas as defined by Section |
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31.002, Utilities Code. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY. (a) Using available appropriated funds, |
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a public institution of higher education selected by the |
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comptroller, in collaboration with the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board, shall conduct a study to identify and evaluate |
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local and state supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 |
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pandemic and ERCOT power outages. |
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(b) Not later than January 1, 2022, the comptroller shall |
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select the public institution of higher education described by |
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Subsection (a) of this section, based on proposals submitted in |
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response to a request for proposals issued by the comptroller. |
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(c) In conducting the study under this section, the public |
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institution of higher education selected under Subsection (a) of |
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this section shall: |
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(1) assess the overall cost to this state of local and |
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state supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and |
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ERCOT power outages; |
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(2) determine the number of jobs affected by local and |
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state supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and |
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ERCOT power outages; |
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(3) determine the industries most affected by local |
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and state supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic |
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and ERCOT power outages; and |
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(4) recommend policies and procedures for maintaining |
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effective supply chains in future health, power, and economic |
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crises. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT. Not later than September 1, 2022, the |
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public institution of higher education selected by the comptroller |
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under Section 2 of this Act shall prepare and submit to the governor |
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and the legislature a report containing the results of the study |
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conducted under Section 2 of this Act and any recommendations for |
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legislative or other action to aid in this state's recovery from the |
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COVID-19 pandemic and the ERCOT power outages and prepare for |
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future health, power, and economic crises. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2021. |