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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of 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. Title 7, Government Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 776 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 776. TEXAS INVASIVE SPECIES COORDINATING COMMITTEE |
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Sec. 776.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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(1) "Committee" means the Texas Invasive Species |
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Coordinating Committee. |
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(2) "Invasive species" means a species that is not |
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native to an ecosystem and whose introduction to the ecosystem |
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causes or has been demonstrated to cause economic harm, |
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environmental harm, or harm to human health. Humans, domestic and |
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exotic livestock, and non-harmful exotic organisms are not invasive |
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species. |
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Sec. 776.002. MEMBER AGENCIES. (a) The member agencies of |
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the committee are: |
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(1) the Department of Agriculture; |
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(2) the Parks and Wildlife Department; |
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(3) the State Soil and Water Conservation Board; |
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(4) the Texas AgriLife Extension Service; |
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(5) the Texas Forest Service; |
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(6) the Texas Water Development Board; and |
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(7) any other state agency added to the committee |
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under Subsection (b). |
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(b) On the request of a state agency that has an interest in |
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controlling invasive species, the member agencies listed in |
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Subsections (a)(1)-(6) by unanimous agreement may add the agency to |
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the committee. |
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Sec. 776.003. REPRESENTATIVES. (a) The committee is |
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composed of one representative of each member agency. If an |
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agency's representative is unable to attend a committee meeting or |
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otherwise perform the representative's duties, the agency's |
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alternate representative shall serve in the representative's |
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place. |
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(b) The administrative head of each member agency: |
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(1) shall designate one individual to serve as the |
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agency's representative on the committee and one individual to |
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serve as alternate representative; |
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(2) may change the designated representative or |
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alternate representative at will; and |
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(3) after designating or changing the representative |
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or alternate representative, shall promptly notify the committee in |
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writing of the name and position of the new representative or |
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alternate representative. |
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(c) Service on the committee by a state officer or employee |
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is an additional duty of the representative's office or employment. |
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Sec. 776.004. DUTIES. (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; |
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(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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(b) Each member agency of the committee shall: |
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(1) coordinate the agency's invasive species control |
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activities with the committee and relevant coordinating bodies, |
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including the National Invasive Species Council; |
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(2) share with the committee the agency's technical |
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expertise related to invasive species; |
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(3) advise the committee of known invasive species |
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threats to natural and agricultural resources; and |
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(4) cooperate, to the extent allowed by law, in |
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initiatives to obtain appropriations and grants for invasive |
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species control. |
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Sec. 776.005. BYLAWS. (a) The committee shall adopt bylaws |
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governing the committee's operations. |
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(b) The bylaws: |
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(1) must provide a procedure to periodically elect one |
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representative as committee chair; |
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(2) must provide a procedure to call committee |
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meetings; |
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(3) must require the committee to meet at least |
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annually; and |
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(4) may provide for the creation of subcommittees and |
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advisory committees. |
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Sec. 776.006. STAFF; ATTACHMENT. (a) The committee is |
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administratively attached to the State Soil and Water Conservation |
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Board. |
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(b) The State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall |
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provide one full-time equivalent employee to serve as committee |
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coordinator. |
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Sec. 776.007. SUNSET PROVISION. (a) The committee is |
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subject to Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in |
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existence as provided by that chapter, the committee is abolished |
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and this chapter expires September 1, 2013. |
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(b) To the extent that Chapter 325 (Texas Sunset Act) places |
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a duty on a state agency subject to review under that chapter, the |
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State Soil and Water Conservation Board shall perform the duty as it |
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relates to the committee. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than November 1, 2009, the |
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administrative head of each member agency of the Texas Invasive |
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Species Coordinating Committee shall designate the agency's |
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initial representative and alternate representative as provided by |
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Section 776.003, Government Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than February 1, 2010, the Texas |
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Invasive Species Coordinating Committee shall hold its first |
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meeting and adopt bylaws as required by Section 776.005, Government |
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Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 865 was passed by the House on April |
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22, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 865 on May 14, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, 1 |
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present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 865 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 7, 2009, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |