Texas 2011 82nd Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1584 Introduced / Bill

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                    82R12071 JJT-D
 By: Ogden S.B. No. 1584


 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 AN ACT
 relating to state fiscal matters related to natural resources and
 the environment.
 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 ARTICLE 1.  REDUCTION OF EXPENDITURES AND IMPOSITION OF CHARGES
 GENERALLY
 SECTION 1.01.  This article applies to any state agency that
 receives an appropriation under Article VI of the General
 Appropriations Act.
 SECTION 1.02.  Notwithstanding any other statute of this
 state, each state agency to which this article applies is
 authorized to reduce or recover expenditures by:
 (1)  consolidating any reports or publications the
 agency is required to make and filing or delivering any of those
 reports or publications exclusively by electronic means;
 (2)  extending the effective period of any license,
 permit, or registration the agency grants or administers;
 (3)  entering into a contract with another governmental
 entity or with a private vendor to carry out any of the agency's
 duties;
 (4)  adopting additional eligibility requirements for
 persons who receive benefits under any law the agency administers
 to ensure that those benefits are received by the most deserving
 persons consistent with the purposes for which the benefits are
 provided;
 (5)  providing that any communication between the
 agency and another person and any document required to be delivered
 to or by the agency, including any application, notice, billing
 statement, receipt, or certificate, may be made or delivered by
 e-mail or through the Internet; and
 (6)  adopting and collecting fees or charges to cover
 any costs the agency incurs in performing its lawful functions.
 ARTICLE 2.  FISCAL MATTERS CONCERNING ANIMAL HEALTH REGULATION
 SECTION 2.01.  Section 161.060, Agriculture Code, is amended
 to read as follows:
 Sec. 161.060.  AUTHORITY TO SET AND COLLECT [INSPECTION]
 FEES. The commission by rule may set and collect a fee for any
 service provided [charge a fee, as provided by commission rule, for
 an inspection made] by the commission, including:
 (1)  the inspection of animals or facilities;
 (2)  the testing of animals for disease;
 (3)  obtaining samples from animals for disease
 testing;
 (4)  disease eradication and treatment efforts;
 (5)  services related to the transport of livestock;
 (6)  control and eradication of ticks and other pests;
 and
 (7)  any other service for which the commission incurs
 a cost.
 ARTICLE 3.  FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING PETROLEUM INDUSTRY REGULATION
 SECTION 3.01.  Section 26.3574(b), Water Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (b)  A fee is imposed on the delivery of a petroleum product
 on withdrawal from bulk of that product as provided by this
 subsection.  Each operator of a bulk facility on withdrawal from
 bulk of a petroleum product shall collect from the person who orders
 the withdrawal a fee in an amount determined as follows:
 (1)  $3.75 for each delivery into a cargo tank having a
 capacity of less than 2,500 gallons [for the state fiscal year
 beginning September 1, 2007, through the state fiscal year ending
 August 31, 2011];
 (2)  $7.50 for each delivery into a cargo tank having a
 capacity of 2,500 gallons or more but less than 5,000 gallons [for
 the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2007, through the
 state fiscal year ending August 31, 2011];
 (3)  $11.75 for each delivery into a cargo tank having a
 capacity of 5,000 gallons or more but less than 8,000 gallons [for
 the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2007, through the
 state fiscal year ending August 31, 2011];
 (4)  $15.00 for each delivery into a cargo tank having a
 capacity of 8,000 gallons or more but less than 10,000 gallons [for
 the state fiscal year beginning September 1, 2007, through the
 state fiscal year ending August 31, 2011]; and
 (5)  $7.50 for each increment of 5,000 gallons or any
 part thereof delivered into a cargo tank having a capacity of 10,000
 gallons or more [for the state fiscal year beginning September 1,
 2007, through the state fiscal year ending August 31, 2011].
 ARTICLE 4.  FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING FUNDING FOR STATE SITES
 SECTION 4.01.  Chapter 11, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
 amended by adding Subchapter J-1 to read as follows:
 SUBCHAPTER J-1.  FOR-PROFIT PARTNERSHIPS
 Sec. 11.221.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
 (1)  "Official corporate partner" means a for-profit
 entity that:
 (A)  is designated an official corporate partner
 by the department;
 (B)  works with the department to raise funds for
 state site operations and maintenance; and
 (C)  is selected as provided under Section 11.222.
 (2)  "State site" means a state park, natural area, or
 historic site under the jurisdiction of the department.
 Sec. 11.222.  SELECTION; CONTRACT.  (a)  Subject to
 commission approval, the department may select a for-profit entity
 as an official corporate partner.
 (b)  The department may contract with an official corporate
 partner to raise funds for state site operations and maintenance.
 Sec. 11.223.  GIFTS AND GRANTS; FUND-RAISING. (a) To raise
 funds for state site operations and maintenance, an official
 corporate partner may accept contributions, gifts, grants, and
 promotional campaign proceeds on behalf of the department.  The
 department shall ensure that an official corporate partner
 transfers the contributions, gifts, grants, and promotional
 campaign proceeds to the department as soon as possible.
 (b)  The department may contract with an official corporate
 partner to conduct joint promotional campaigns or other
 fund-raising efforts conducted by the department to raise funds for
 state site operations and maintenance.
 Sec. 11.224.  USE OF FUNDS. Money received by the department
 under this subchapter, including money received under a contract or
 licensing or other agreement or as a gift or grant, may be used only
 for state site operations and maintenance.
 Sec. 11.225.  RULES. The commission shall adopt rules to
 implement this subchapter, including rules that establish
 guidelines or best practices for official corporate partners.
 SECTION 4.02.  Subchapter A, Chapter 13, Parks and Wildlife
 Code, is amended by adding Sections 13.0151 and 13.0155 to read as
 follows:
 Sec. 13.0151.  STATE PARK PASSES. (a)  The department may
 contract with any entity the department considers appropriate to
 sell state park passes in any of the entity's retail locations.
 (b)  The commission may adopt rules to implement this
 section.
 Sec. 13.0155.  USE OF PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT BRAND.
 (a)  The department may contract with any entity the department
 considers appropriate to use the Parks and Wildlife Department
 brand in exchange for licensing fees paid by the entity to the
 department.
 (b)  The department shall use the licensing fees received
 under Subsection (a) only for the operation and maintenance of
 state sites as defined by Section 11.221.
 (c)  The commission may adopt rules to implement this
 section.
 SECTION 4.03.  Subchapter B, Chapter 13, Parks and Wildlife
 Code, is amended by adding Section 13.103 to read as follows:
 Sec. 13.103.  ADVERTISING.  The commission by rule may
 assess and limit commercial advertising in state parks, natural
 areas, historic sites, or other sites under the jurisdiction of the
 department to preserve the integrity of the sites and to minimize
 distractions that may interfere with the enjoyment of the sites by
 visitors.
 ARTICLE 5.  FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT
 SECTION 5.01.  Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation
 Code, is amended by adding Section 502.1747 to read as follows:
 Sec. 502.1747.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO PARKS AND WILDLIFE
 DEPARTMENT. (a)  When a person registers or renews the registration
 of a motor vehicle under this chapter, the person may contribute $5
 or more to the Parks and Wildlife Department.
 (b)  The county assessor-collector shall send any
 contribution made under this section to the comptroller for credit
 to the Parks and Wildlife Department. Money received by the Parks
 and Wildlife Department under this section may be used only for the
 operation and maintenance of state parks, historic sites, or
 natural areas under the jurisdiction of the Parks and Wildlife
 Department.
 ARTICLE 6.  FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING PRESERVATION OF NATURAL
 RESOURCES
 SECTION 6.01.  Section 33.603(f), Natural Resources Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (f)  Notwithstanding Subsections (c) and (e), each biennium
 the commissioner may undertake at least one erosion response
 project without requiring a qualified project partner to pay a
 portion of the shared project cost. The [if the] total cost of the
 projects undertaken that do not have a cost share requirement may
 [does] not exceed one-third [one-half] of the total amount
 appropriated to the land office for coastal erosion planning and
 response, except that if any of the projects that do not have a cost
 share requirement are undertaken in response to erosion associated
 with a federally declared disaster:
 (1)  the total cost of the projects undertaken that do
 not have a cost share requirement and that are not undertaken in
 response to erosion associated with a federally declared disaster
 may not exceed one-third of the total amount appropriated to the
 land office for coastal erosion planning and response; and
 (2)  the total cost of all of the projects undertaken
 that do not have a cost share requirement, whether or not undertaken
 in response to erosion associated with a federally declared
 disaster, may not exceed one-half of the total amount appropriated
 to the land office for coastal erosion planning and response.
 SECTION 6.02.  Sections 33.604(a) and (b), Natural Resources
 Code, are amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The coastal erosion response account is an account in
 the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only to the
 commissioner and used only for the purpose of implementing this
 subchapter [and administration of the coastal management program as
 provided in Subchapter F].
 (b)  The account consists of:
 (1)  all money appropriated for the purposes of this
 subchapter;
 (2)  grants to this state from the United States for the
 purposes of this subchapter;
 (3)  all money received by this state from the sale of
 dredged material; [and]
 (4)  penalties or costs collected under Section 61.0184
 or 63.1814; and
 (5)  fees deposited to the credit of the account in
 accordance with Section 33.614.
 SECTION 6.03.  Section 33.605, Natural Resources Code, is
 amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to
 read as follows:
 (a)  Money in the account may be used for[:
 [(1)]  any action authorized by this subchapter[; and
 [(2)     the administration of the coastal management
 program as provided in Subchapter F].
 (c)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a), fees deposited to the
 credit of the account in accordance with Section 33.614 may be used
 only for erosion response projects that directly affect commercial
 vessels that dock at ports operated by port authorities or
 navigation districts in this state.
 SECTION 6.04.  Section 33.608, Natural Resources Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 Sec. 33.608.  REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. (a)  Each biennium, the
 commissioner shall submit to the legislature a report listing:
 (1)  each critical erosion area;
 (2)  each proposed erosion response study or project;
 (3)  an estimate of the cost of each proposed study or
 project described by Subdivision (2);
 (4)  each coastal erosion response study or project
 funded under this subchapter during the preceding biennium;
 (5)  the economic and natural resource benefits from
 each coastal erosion response study or project described by
 Subdivision (4);
 (6)  the financial status of the account; and
 (7)  an estimate of the cost of implementing this
 subchapter during the succeeding biennium.
 (b)  The report must include a plan for coastal erosion
 response studies and projects that may be funded, wholly or partly,
 from money in the account and may be undertaken during the next 10
 or more years.
 SECTION 6.05.  Subchapter H, Chapter 33, Natural Resources
 Code, is amended by adding Sections 33.614 and 33.615 to read as
 follows:
 Sec. 33.614.  COMMERCIAL VESSEL DOCKING FEE. (a) Each port
 authority or navigation district shall impose a fee of $2 for each
 foot of vessel length on each owner or operator of a commercial
 vessel with a draft of at least 18 feet each time the vessel docks at
 the port operated by the port authority or navigation district.
 (b)  A port authority or navigation district that collects a
 fee under Subsection (a) shall remit the amount of the fee to the
 comptroller.
 (c)  A port authority or navigation district that makes a
 timely payment to the comptroller of the amount of a fee collected
 under Subsection (a) is entitled to retain an amount equal to one
 percent of the amount of the fee collected to cover the port
 authority's or navigation district's administrative expenses.
 (d)  The comptroller shall deposit the amount of the fees
 collected to the credit of the account as provided by Section
 33.604.
 (e)  The comptroller shall adopt rules necessary for the
 administration, collection, reporting, and payment of the fee.
 Sec. 33.615.  DEDICATION OF OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS
 ACT REVENUE. One-sixth of the revenue received by this state under
 Section 8(g), Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. Section
 1337(g)), being one-half of that portion of the revenue credited to
 the general revenue fund and not otherwise deposited to the credit
 of the permanent school fund pursuant to the Agreed Judgment in
 Cause No. 395,483 in the 299th Judicial District Court of Travis
 County on file in the Travis County District Clerk's records at
 Volume 1396, Page 479, may be appropriated only to the commissioner
 for the purpose of implementing this subchapter.
 SECTION 6.06.  Section 162.502(c), Tax Code, is amended to
 read as follows:
 (c)  Of the money [Money] deposited to the credit of the
 general revenue fund under Subsection (b)(2):
 (1)  33-1/3 percent may be appropriated only to the
 commissioner of the General Land Office for the purpose of
 implementing Subchapter H, Chapter 33, Natural Resources Code; and
 (2)  66-2/3 percent may be appropriated only to the
 Parks and Wildlife Department for any lawful purpose.
 SECTION 6.07.  Section 33.614, Natural Resources Code, as
 added by this Act, applies only to a vessel that docks at a port on
 or after the effective date of this Act.
 ARTICLE 7.  FISCAL MATTERS REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
 SECTION 7.01.  Section 386.051(b), Health and Safety Code,
 is amended to read as follows:
 (b)  Under the plan, the commission and the comptroller shall
 provide grants or other funding for:
 (1)  the diesel emissions reduction incentive program
 established under Subchapter C, including for infrastructure
 projects established under that subchapter;
 (2)  the motor vehicle purchase or lease incentive
 program established under Subchapter D;
 (3)  air quality research under Section 386.059 [the
 new technology research and development program established under
 Chapter 387];
 (4)  the clean school bus program established under
 Chapter 390; and
 (5)  the new technology implementation grant program
 established under Chapter 391.
 SECTION 7.02.  Section 386.058(b), Health and Safety Code,
 is amended to read as follows:
 (b)  The governor shall appoint to the advisory board:
 (1)  a representative of the trucking industry;
 (2)  a representative of the air conditioning
 manufacturing industry;
 (3)  a representative of the electric utility industry;
 (4)  a representative of regional transportation; and
 (5)  a representative of the nonprofit organization
 described by Section 386.059 [386.252(a)(2)].
 SECTION 7.03.  Subchapter B, Chapter 386, Health and Safety
 Code, is amended by adding Section 386.059 to read as follows:
 Sec. 386.059.  AIR QUALITY RESEARCH. (a) The commission
 shall contract with a nonprofit organization or institution of
 higher education to establish and administer a program to support
 research related to air quality.
 (b)  The board of directors of a nonprofit organization
 establishing and administering the research program related to air
 quality under this section may not have more than 11 members, must
 include two persons with relevant scientific expertise to be
 nominated by the commission, and may not include more than four
 county judges selected from counties in the
 Houston-Galveston-Brazoria and Dallas-Fort Worth nonattainment
 areas.  The two persons with relevant scientific expertise to be
 nominated by the commission may be employees or officers of the
 commission, provided that they do not participate in funding
 decisions affecting the granting of funds by the commission to a
 nonprofit organization on whose board they serve.
 (c)  The commission shall provide oversight as appropriate
 for grants provided under the program established under this
 section.
 (d)  A nonprofit organization or institution of higher
 education shall submit to the commission for approval a budget for
 the disposition of funds granted under the program established
 under this section.
 (e)  A nonprofit organization or institution of higher
 education shall be reimbursed for costs incurred in establishing
 and administering the research program related to air quality under
 this section. Reimbursable administrative costs of a nonprofit
 organization or institution of higher education may not exceed 10
 percent of the program budget.
 (f)  A nonprofit organization that receives grants from the
 commission under this section is subject to Chapters 551 and 552,
 Government Code.
 SECTION 7.04.  Section 386.108(a), Health and Safety Code,
 is amended to read as follows:
 (a)  The commission shall provide funding under Section
 386.252(a) [386.252(a)(1)] for infrastructure projects.
 SECTION 7.05.  Section 386.252, Health and Safety Code, is
 amended by reenacting and amending Subsection (a), as amended by
 Chapters 1125 (H.B. 1796) and 1232 (S.B. 1759), Acts of the 81st
 Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, and by adding Subsection (a-1)
 to read as follows:
 (a)  Of the money [Money] in the fund, 96.5 percent may be
 used only to implement and administer programs established under
 the plan and shall be allocated as follows:
 (1)  [for the diesel emissions reduction incentive
 program, 87.5 percent of the money in the fund, of which:
 [(A)]  not more than four percent may be used for
 the clean school bus program;
 (2) [(B)]  not more than 10 percent may be used for
 on-road diesel purchase or lease incentives; [and]
 (3) [(C)]  a specified amount may be used for the new
 technology implementation grant program, from which a defined
 amount may be set aside for electricity storage projects related to
 renewable energy;
 (4)  five percent shall be used for the clean fleet
 program;
 (5) [(2)     for the new technology research and
 development program, nine percent of the money in the fund, of
 which:
 [(A)]  up to $200,000 is allocated for a health
 effects study;
 (6)  up to [(B)] $500,000 is to be deposited in the
 state treasury to the credit of the clean air account created under
 Section 382.0622 to supplement funding for air quality planning
 activities in affected counties;
 (7)  up to $2 million [(C)  not less than 20 percent]
 is to be allocated annually [each year] to support research related
 to air quality as provided by Section 386.059 [387.010];
 (8)  up to $216,000 is allocated annually to the
 commission to [and
 [(D)     the balance is allocated each year to the
 commission to be used to:
 [(i)     implement and administer the new
 technology research and development program for the purpose of
 identifying, testing, and evaluating new emissions-reducing
 technologies with potential for commercialization in this state and
 to facilitate their certification or verification; and
 [(ii)]  contract with the Energy Systems
 Laboratory at the Texas Engineering Experiment Station for
 [$216,000 annually for] the development and annual computation of
 creditable statewide emissions reductions obtained through wind
 and other renewable energy resources for the state implementation
 plan; and
 (9)  the balance of the money in the fund allocated by
 this subsection is allocated to the remaining programs of the
 diesel emissions reduction incentive program.
 (a-1)  Two [(3)  two] percent of the money in the fund is
 allocated to the commission and 1.5 percent is allocated to the
 laboratory for administrative costs incurred by the commission and
 the laboratory.
 SECTION 7.06.  Section 447.011(h), Government Code, is
 amended to read as follows:
 (h)  The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality shall
 obtain information on any fuel-saving technology that appears to
 reduce particulate matter, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, or
 hydrocarbon emissions. [The Texas Commission on Environmental
 Quality may use this information to fund the United States
 Environmental Protection Agency verification of a technology in
 accordance with Section 387.003, Health and Safety Code.]
 SECTION 7.07.  Chapter 387, Health and Safety Code, is
 repealed.
 SECTION 7.08.  A grant issued under Chapter 387, Health and
 Safety Code, before the effective date of this Act is governed by
 Chapter 387, Health and Safety Code, as it existed immediately
 before the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in
 effect for that purpose.
 SECTION 7.09.  To the extent of any conflict, this article
 prevails over an Act of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session,
 2011, relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in
 enacted codes.
 ARTICLE 8.  EFFECTIVE DATE
 SECTION  8.01.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.