2011S0151-2 02/02/11
By: Fraser, et al. S.B. No. 527
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to air monitors in Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality Regions 3 and 4 to be funded through the Texas emissions
reduction plan.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (a), Section 386.252, Health and
Safety Code, as amended by Chapters 1125 (H.B. 1796) and 1232 (S.B.
1759), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is
reenacted and amended to read as follows:
(a) Money in the fund 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;
(B) not more than 10 percent may be used for
on-road diesel purchase or lease incentives; [and]
(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; and
(D) five percent shall be used for the clean
fleet program;
(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;
(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;
(C) not less than 20 percent is to be allocated
each year to support research related to air quality as provided by
Section 387.010; [and]
(D) not less than $3 million or more than $7
million in 2012 and 2013 and not less than $1 million or more than $3
million in subsequent years is allocated to fund the implementation
and oversight of a regional air monitoring program in commission
Regions 3 and 4 implemented through a regional nonprofit entity
located in North Texas having representation from counties,
municipalities, higher education institutions, and private sector
interests across the area; and
(E) 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
(3) two percent 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 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.