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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 Task Force on Concrete Plants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. TASK FORCE ON CONCRETE PLANTS. (a) The Task |
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Force on Concrete Plants is established. |
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(b) The task force shall consult with experts on and study |
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the effects of air and noise pollution caused by concrete batch and |
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crushing plants in this state. After completing the study, the task |
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force shall: |
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(1) develop recommendations for legislation to: |
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(A) reduce air and noise pollution caused by |
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concrete batch and crushing plants; |
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(B) improve the processes for issuing permits for |
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and inspecting concrete batch and crushing plants; and |
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(C) improve enforcement of statutes and rules |
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that apply to concrete batch and crushing plants; and |
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(2) identify best practices to reduce air and noise |
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pollution caused by concrete batch and crushing plants. |
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(c) The task force is composed of the following members: |
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(1) two members of the house of representatives |
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appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; |
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(2) two members of the senate appointed by the |
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lieutenant governor; |
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(3) the executive director of the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality or the director's designee; and |
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(4) seven members appointed by the governor as |
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follows: |
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(A) one member to represent concrete batch and |
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crushing plant operators; |
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(B) one member to represent an institution of |
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higher education in the state who must have published research |
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regarding environmental pollutants; |
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(C) one member who is a toxicologist certified by |
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the American Board of Toxicology or an equivalent entity; |
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(D) one member who is a professional with |
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experience in geographic information systems; and |
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(E) three members to represent community |
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organizations who each reside not more than five miles from a |
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concrete batch or crushing plant. |
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(d) The governor shall designate one member of the task |
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force to serve as the presiding officer. |
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(e) A member of the task force is not entitled to |
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compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for the member's |
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travel expenses as provided by Chapter 660, Government Code, and |
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the General Appropriations Act. |
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(f) Not later than December 1, 2024, the task force shall: |
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(1) compile a report of its findings and |
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recommendations; and |
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(2) submit the report to the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives. |
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(g) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to this |
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task force. |
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(h) The task force is abolished and this Act expires on |
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January 1, 2025. |
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SECTION 2. APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS. As soon as practicable |
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after the effective date of this Act, the governor, the lieutenant |
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governor, and the speaker of the house of representatives shall |
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appoint members to the Task Force on Concrete Plants as required by |
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this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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. |