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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study evaluating this state's business advantages, |
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economic climate, and workforce readiness, and a report on |
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attracting offshore wind energy supply chain industries to this |
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state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITION. In this Act, "office" means the |
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Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office within the office of |
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the governor. |
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SECTION 2. STUDY AND REPORT ON OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY SUPPLY |
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CHAIN COMPETITIVENESS. (a) The office, in collaboration with the |
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Texas Workforce Commission, shall conduct a study and develop a |
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report to identify and analyze this state's potential economic and |
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workforce growth opportunities and challenges related to |
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attracting offshore wind energy supply chain industries to this |
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state. The report may include recommendations for further study, |
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policies, or investments in aspects of the offshore wind energy |
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supply chain. |
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(b) In preparing the study, the office may consider and |
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identify: |
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(1) discrete segments within the offshore wind energy |
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supply chain, including advanced manufacturing operations, |
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specialty component manufacturing, seaport network infrastructure, |
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shipbuilding, component assembly, transportation and distribution, |
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and ancillary services for future domestic offshore wind energy |
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projects; |
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(2) the estimated number and type of current and |
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potential offshore wind energy supply chain direct manufacturing |
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jobs; |
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(3) potential industry growth and activity in this |
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state's existing seaport network, advanced manufacturing, energy |
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production and management, and information technology industries; |
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(4) the greatest impact investment opportunities to |
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produce the largest net economic benefit, including identification |
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of the geographic areas most likely to benefit or to be impacted by |
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offshore wind energy supply chain industries in this state; |
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(5) potential benefits to local tax bases; |
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(6) expected additional contributions to state |
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economic production; |
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(7) potential ancillary economic benefits; and |
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(8) any additional information the office identifies |
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as relevant. |
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(c) In conducting the study and preparing the report, the |
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office may: |
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(1) conduct an analysis of current resources in this |
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state compared to the workforce education, training, development, |
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and recruitment needed to offer a skilled workforce for employers |
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in the offshore wind energy supply chain industry; |
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(2) evaluate the potential benefits of and |
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opportunities to develop regional private sector partnerships with |
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offshore wind energy supply chain industries to support workforce |
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development and training; |
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(3) explore opportunities for partnerships with |
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neighboring states to undertake complementary actions, policies, |
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and investments that will help achieve a domestic offshore wind |
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energy supply chain and workforce; |
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(4) identify available funding, including resources |
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from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Pub. L. |
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No. 117-58) and Pub. L. No. 117-169, to support the recruitment and |
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expansion of offshore wind energy supply chain industries to this |
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state and related workforce development; and |
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(5) develop actionable recommendations this state |
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should take to recruit new, and assist the expansion of existing, |
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offshore wind energy supply chain industries. |
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(d) The office may, if necessary and as appropriate, partner |
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with a nonprofit entity or institution of higher education, as |
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defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, to conduct the study. |
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SECTION 3. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than December |
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1, 2024, the office shall submit a report to the governor, the |
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lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, |
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and each member of the legislature that includes the results of the |
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study and a report of recommendations for legislative or other |
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action. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. This Act expires September 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |