By: Taylor  S.B. No. 1266
         (In the Senate - Filed March 9, 2021; March 18, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources &
  Economic Development; April 21, 2021, reported favorably by the
  following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 21, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the feasibility of creating and maintaining a coastal
  barrier system.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a) The legislature shall establish a joint
  interim committee to continue to study the implementation of a
  coastal barrier system in this state that includes a series of gates
  and barriers to prevent storm surge damage to gulf beaches or
  coastal ports, industry, or property.
         (b)  The committee is composed of:
               (1)  the members of the standing committee of the
  senate that has primary jurisdiction over natural resources;
               (2)  the members of the standing committee of the house
  of representatives that has primary jurisdiction over land and
  resource management;
               (3)  two members of the senate appointed by the
  lieutenant governor, each of whom represents a district in a county
  that borders the Gulf of Mexico; and
               (4)  two members of the house of representatives
  appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, each of
  whom represents a district in a county that borders the Gulf of
  Mexico.
         (c)  The lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of
  representatives shall jointly designate a chair or, alternatively,
  designate two co-chairs from among the committee membership.
         (d)  The committee may adopt rules necessary to carry out the
  committee's duties under this section.
         (e)  Not later than December 1, 2022, the committee shall
  report to the governor and the legislature the findings of the study
  and any recommendations developed by the committee under this
  section.
         (f)  The committee is abolished and this Act expires January
  9, 2023.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
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