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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program |
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for solar energy sites. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter K, Chapter 88, |
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Education Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION [SERVICE] |
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SECTION 2. Section 88.821, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 88.821. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "AgriLife |
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Extension" or "extension service" means [the] Texas A&M AgriLife |
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Extension [Service]. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 88.824 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 88.824. TEXAS POLLINATOR-SMART PROGRAM. (a) AgriLife |
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Extension shall establish and implement the Texas Pollinator-Smart |
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program to encourage the voluntary establishment and conservation |
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of habitats for bees, birds, and other pollinators in and near solar |
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energy sites. |
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(b) AgriLife Extension shall develop educational materials |
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for the program that include information regarding: |
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(1) benefits to solar energy producers, neighboring |
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landowners, agricultural producers, and the environment of |
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providing pollinator habitats at solar energy sites; |
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(2) resources and practices for establishing and |
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maintaining pollinator habitats; |
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(3) native plant species compatible with solar energy |
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sites that provide habitat for pollinators; |
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(4) methods to prevent, identify, and eradicate |
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invasive species without causing harm to pollinators; |
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(5) any available grants or other financial incentives |
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for establishing or maintaining pollinator habitats; |
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(6) examples of pollinator habitats established at |
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solar energy sites in this state or other locations; and |
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(7) the Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard and |
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certificate under Subsection (c). |
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(c) AgriLife Extension shall: |
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(1) develop a Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard with |
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criteria to evaluate and score pollinator habitats at solar energy |
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sites in this state; and |
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(2) award the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate to |
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solar energy sites with pollinator habitats that meet or achieve a |
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score determined by AgriLife Extension. |
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(d) AgriLife Extension may provide advice and technical |
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assistance to participants and potential participants in the Texas |
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Pollinator-Smart program, including reports evaluating the |
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suitability of solar energy sites. |
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(e) Participation in the Texas Pollinator-Smart program by |
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a solar energy site is voluntary. |
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SECTION 4. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is required to |
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implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature |
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appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the |
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legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that |
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purpose, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension may, but is not required to, |
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implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations |
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available for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |