By: Zaffirini  S.B. No. 1772
         (In the Senate - Filed March 12, 2021; March 26, 2021, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural
  Affairs; April 26, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote:  
  Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 26, 2021, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program
  for solar energy sites.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter K, Chapter 88,
  Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION [SERVICE]
         SECTION 2.  Section 88.821, Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows: 
         Sec. 88.821.  DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "AgriLife
  Extension" or "extension service" means [the] Texas A&M AgriLife
  Extension [Service].
         SECTION 3.  Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 88.824 to read as follows:
         Sec. 88.824.  TEXAS POLLINATOR-SMART PROGRAM. (a) AgriLife
  Extension shall establish and implement the Texas Pollinator-Smart
  program to encourage the voluntary establishment and conservation
  of habitats for bees, birds, and other pollinators in and near solar
  energy sites.
         (b)  AgriLife Extension shall develop educational materials
  for the program that include information regarding:
               (1)  benefits to solar energy producers, neighboring
  landowners, agricultural producers, and the environment of
  providing pollinator habitats at solar energy sites;
               (2)  resources and practices for establishing and
  maintaining pollinator habitats;
               (3)  native plant species compatible with solar energy
  sites that provide habitat for pollinators;
               (4)  methods to prevent, identify, and eradicate
  invasive species without causing harm to pollinators;
               (5)  any available grants or other financial incentives
  for establishing or maintaining pollinator habitats;
               (6)  examples of pollinator habitats established at
  solar energy sites in this state or other locations; and
               (7)  the Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard and
  certificate under Subsection (c).
         (c)  AgriLife Extension shall:
               (1)  develop a Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard with
  criteria to evaluate and score pollinator habitats at solar energy
  sites in this state; and
               (2)  award the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate to
  solar energy sites with pollinator habitats that meet or achieve a
  score determined by AgriLife Extension.
         (d)  AgriLife Extension may provide advice and technical
  assistance to participants and potential participants in the Texas
  Pollinator-Smart program, including reports evaluating the
  suitability of solar energy sites.
         (e)  Participation in the Texas Pollinator-Smart program by
  a solar energy site is voluntary.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
 
  * * * * *