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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the continuation and functions of the State Soil and |
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Water Conservation Board and the Texas Invasive Species |
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Coordinating Committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 201.0142, Agriculture Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) The training program must provide the person with |
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information regarding: |
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(1) the law governing [legislation that created the] |
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state board operations; |
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(2) the programs, functions, rules, and budget of |
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[operated by] the state board; |
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(3) the scope of and limitations on the rulemaking |
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authority [role and functions] of the state board; |
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(4) [the rules of the state board, with an emphasis on |
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the rules that relate to disciplinary and investigatory authority; |
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[(5) the current budget for the state board; |
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[(6)] the results of the most recent formal audit of |
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the state board; |
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(5) [(7)] the requirements of: |
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(A) laws relating to [the] open meetings, [law, |
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Chapter 551, Government Code; |
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[(B) the] public information, [law, Chapter 552, |
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Government Code; |
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[(C) the] administrative procedure, and |
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disclosing conflicts of interest [law, Chapter 2001, Government |
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Code]; and |
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(B) [(D)] other laws applicable to members of a |
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state policy-making body in performing their duties [relating to |
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public officials, including conflict-of-interest laws]; and |
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(6) [(8)] any applicable ethics policies adopted by |
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the state board or the Texas Ethics Commission. |
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(d) The executive director shall create a training manual |
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that includes the information required by Subsection (b). The |
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executive director shall distribute a copy of the training manual |
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annually to each member of the state board. Each member of the |
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state board shall sign and submit to the executive director a |
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statement acknowledging that the member received and has reviewed |
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the training manual. |
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SECTION 2. Section 201.019(i), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(i) The state board [agency] shall develop and implement |
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policies that [which] clearly separate the policy-making |
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[respective] responsibilities of the state board and the management |
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responsibilities of the executive director and the staff of the |
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state board. |
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SECTION 3. Sections 201.0231(a) and (c), Agriculture Code, |
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are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The state board shall maintain a [central database of |
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complaints filed with state board offices and a] system to promptly |
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and efficiently act on complaints [a complaint] filed with the [a] |
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state board [office]. The state board shall maintain information |
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about parties to the complaint, the subject matter of the |
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complaint, a summary of the results of the review or investigation |
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of the complaint, and its disposition. |
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(c) The state board shall periodically notify the complaint |
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parties [to the complaint] of the status of the complaint until |
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final disposition unless the notice would jeopardize an |
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investigation. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 201, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 201.0226 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.0226. DAM STRUCTURAL REPAIR GRANT PROGRAM. (a) |
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The state board shall develop and implement a program to provide |
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grants for the structural repair and maintenance of flood control |
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dams. |
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(b) With input from stakeholders, the state board shall: |
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(1) establish goals, criteria, and metrics for the |
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grant program; and |
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(2) assess the need for funding the structural repair |
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and maintenance of flood control dams throughout this state, |
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including the number of projects a grant sponsor can complete each |
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year. |
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(c) In adopting rules or policies for the grant program, the |
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state board shall: |
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(1) ensure any local matching fund requirement adopted |
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by the state board accounts for the financial capacity of the grant |
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sponsor; and |
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(2) consider dams that are classified as high-hazard |
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by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. |
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(d) The state board shall ensure guidance documents for the |
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grant program, including the 10-year dam repair, rehabilitation, |
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and maintenance plan adopted under Section 201.0227, are consistent |
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with the goals, criteria, and metrics established under Subsection |
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(b). |
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SECTION 5. Section 201.0227, Agriculture Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) The state board shall consider the timelines for grant |
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applications for the dam structural repair grant program under |
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Section 201.0226 when preparing and adopting a plan under this |
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section. |
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SECTION 6. Section 201.025, Agriculture Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 201.025. SUNSET PROVISION. The State Soil and Water |
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Conservation Board is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code |
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(Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by |
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that chapter, the state board is abolished [and this chapter |
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expires] September 1, 2035 [2023]. |
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SECTION 7. Section 776.004, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The committee shall: |
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(1) [serve as a catalyst for cooperation between state |
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agencies in the area of invasive species control; |
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[(2) facilitate governmental efforts, including |
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efforts of local governments and special districts, to prevent and |
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manage invasive species; |
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[(3) make recommendations to state agencies regarding |
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research, technology transfer, and management actions related to |
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invasive species control; |
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[(4)] facilitate the exchange of information so that |
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each member agency is informed of committee plans, recommendations, |
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and proposals for research, education, and implementation of |
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activities to: |
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(A) prevent, detect, assess, monitor, contain, |
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and control or eradicate invasive species; and |
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(B) reduce environmental and economic threats |
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and threats to human health from invasive species; and |
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(2) [(5)] provide a forum for developing coordinated |
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interagency strategies and policies for invasive species control[; |
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[(6) provide technical information and input to |
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regional and national invasive species control coordination |
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efforts, including the National Invasive Species Management Plan; |
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[(7) facilitate the review of committee technical |
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decisions and work product by specialists and interested persons; |
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and |
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[(8) report as needed to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, and speaker of the house of representatives on committee |
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plans, work product, and accomplishments]. |
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(a-1) The committee may: |
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(1) serve as a catalyst for cooperation between state |
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agencies in the area of invasive species control; |
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(2) facilitate governmental efforts, including |
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efforts of local governments and special districts, to prevent and |
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manage invasive species; |
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(3) make recommendations to state agencies regarding |
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research, technology transfer, and management actions related to |
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invasive species control; |
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(4) provide technical information and input to |
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regional and national invasive species control coordination |
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efforts, including the National Invasive Species Management Plan; |
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(5) facilitate the review of committee technical |
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decisions and work product by specialists and interested persons; |
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and |
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(6) report as needed to the governor, lieutenant |
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governor, and speaker of the house of representatives on committee |
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plans, work product, and accomplishments. |
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SECTION 8. Chapter 776, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 776.0051 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 776.0051. MEETINGS. (a) The committee shall meet at |
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least annually at the call of the committee chair or the State Soil |
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and Water Conservation Board's representative on the committee. |
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(b) The State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall ensure |
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the committee meets at least annually. |
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SECTION 9. Section 776.007, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(a) The committee is subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset |
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Act). [Unless continued in existence as provided by that chapter, |
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the committee is abolished and this chapter expires September 1, |
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2023.] |
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(c) The committee shall be reviewed during each period in |
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which the State Soil and Water Conservation Board is reviewed. |
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SECTION 10. Section 776.006(b), Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 11. (a) For purposes of Section 201.025, |
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Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act, the Sunset Advisory |
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Commission shall conduct a limited-scope review of the State Soil |
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and Water Conservation Board for the 90th Legislature. |
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(b) In conducting the limited-scope review under this |
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section, the Sunset Advisory Commission staff evaluation and report |
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must be limited to reviewing the State Soil and Water Conservation |
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Board's dam structural repair grant program. |
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(c) The Sunset Advisory Commission's recommendations to the |
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90th Legislature may include any recommendation the commission |
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considers appropriate based on the limited-scope review conducted |
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under this section. |
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SECTION 12. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |