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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of a global warming task force. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. (a) The state climatologist shall establish a |
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global warming task force composed of business leaders, academic |
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scholars, scientists, economists, and environmentalists to develop |
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a balanced and authoritative assessment of the global warming |
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challenges and opportunities facing Texas. The global warming task |
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force shall focus on the economic opportunities available for Texas |
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businesses in preventing global warming and protecting public |
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health from the effects of global warming. |
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(b) The global warming task force shall: |
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(1) assess and update the findings presented by the |
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Task Force on Climate Change in Texas in its 1995 report titled "The |
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Impact of Global Warming on Texas"; |
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(2) assess the feasibility of implementing a carbon |
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emissions credit system in this state; and |
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(3) determine opportunities in this state for |
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increasing: |
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(A) efficiency in the use of energy; |
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(B) the use of renewable sources of energy; and |
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(C) the capture and sequestration of carbon |
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emissions from the use of fossil fuels. |
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(c) Not later than October 1, 2008, the global warming task |
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force shall present to the state climatologist findings relating to |
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the assessments conducted under Subsection (b). Not later than |
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November 1, 2008, the state climatologist shall distribute the task |
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force's findings to the governor and each member of the |
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legislature. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2007, the state |
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climatologist shall establish a global warming task force as |
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required by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |