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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and administration of the On-The-Ground |
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Conservation Program by the State Soil and Water Conservation |
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Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 201, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter J to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER J. ON-THE-GROUND CONSERVATION PROGRAM |
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Sec. 201.351. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Priority conservation measure" means a priority |
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soil and water conservation land improvement measure designated |
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under Section 201.355. |
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(2) "Program" means the On-The-Ground Conservation |
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Program. |
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(3) "Soil health characteristics" means the physical, |
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chemical, and biological characteristics of soil for optimal |
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production, including lower bulk density, good gas exchange, lower |
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surface temperature during growing season, high cation exchange |
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capacity, high soil organic matter, and active soil microorganisms. |
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Sec. 201.352. CREATION OF PROGRAM. The state board may |
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develop and administer the program to maximize public benefits by |
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facilitating priority conservation measures and other soil and |
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water conservation land improvement measures by landowners and |
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operators in this state. |
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Sec. 201.353. PROGRAM FUNCTIONS. (a) The state board may |
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provide through the program: |
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(1) technical assistance; |
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(2) cost-share assistance; |
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(3) direct grants; and |
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(4) help in obtaining technical assistance, |
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cost-share assistance, and direct grants from other public or |
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private sources. |
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(b) The state board may create rules, forms, and procedures |
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necessary for the administration of the program. |
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(c) The state board may: |
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(1) obtain grants, cost-sharing assistance, or other |
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forms of funding from other state or federal governmental entities; |
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(2) coordinate, receive, and use gifts, grants, and |
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donations from private sources; |
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(3) work with qualified nonprofit organizations and |
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universities to provide technical assistance; and |
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(4) designate one or more conservation districts to |
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administer the program locally. |
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Sec. 201.354. PROGRAM COST-SHARE RATES. The state board |
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may establish cost-share rates for eligible soil and water |
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conservation land improvement measures under the program. |
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Sec. 201.355. PRIORITY CONSERVATION MEASURES. (a) The |
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state board may designate and give priority under the program to |
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priority conservation measures that maximize public benefits to the |
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state. Priority conservation measures include measures that: |
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(1) improve soil health characteristics; |
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(2) conserve and manage water resources; |
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(3) prevent and manage flooding; |
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(4) control invasive and nuisance species; |
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(5) improve resilience to weather extremes, climate |
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variability, and natural disasters; |
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(6) protect and enhance native habitats, including the |
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protection of endangered species; |
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(7) mitigate and reduce soil erosion; |
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(8) restore land damaged by development; and |
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(9) sequester carbon to provide environmental |
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benefits. |
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(b) The state board may: |
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(1) establish standards and specifications for each |
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priority conservation measure designated under this section; and |
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(2) consider local priorities and needs in designating |
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a priority conservation measure under this section. |
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Sec. 201.356. CERTIFICATION. The state board may provide |
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certification that specific soil and water conservation land |
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improvement measures have been implemented in accordance with any |
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standards and specifications established under Section 201.355(b). |
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Sec. 201.357. REPORT. The state board shall include |
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information regarding the program's activities in the annual report |
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required by Section 201.028. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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