83R19454 AED-D
By: Villarreal H.B. No. 1135
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1135:
By: Kleinschmidt C.S.H.B. No. 1135
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study conducted by the Texas Department of
Transportation regarding the production of and use of native seeds.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) In this section, "native
plant" and "native seed" mean a plant or a seed from a plant that is
found in, and naturally endemic to, ecosystems, sites, or regions
in the present borders of this state, as to which the best available
information indicates an indigenous nature precluding the plant's
or seed's introduction or transport to this state from some other
location by nonnatural conveyances. The terms include improved
varieties of native seeds. Plants and seeds that do not meet the
definition of "native plant" or "native seed" are designated as
"nonnative."
(b) The Texas Department of Transportation shall conduct a
study based on a review of the use of native seed in projects
related to land restoration and soil stabilization by the
department and its contractors and assignees for the years 2008
through 2012, and shall report the department's historic use of
native seed by geographic region or district.
(c) In conducting the study and preparing the report, the
Texas Department of Transportation shall consider:
(1) geographic, regional, or district use of specific
varieties of native seed for restoration projects administered by
the department and its contractors or assignees;
(2) determinations of the percentage of the
department's restoration projects using native seed versus
nonnative seed, including blends of native and nonnative seed, by
geographic region or district and projects performed by the
department and its contractors or assignees; and
(3) methodologies and procedures that the department
and its contractors or assignees must use to forecast the future
needs for native seed for restoration projects by geographic
region.
(d) The Texas Department of Transportation shall develop
methodologies and procedures for forecasting the department's and
its contractors' and assignees' future needs for native seeds for
the years 2015 through 2020. The department shall continue to
maintain a five-year forecast for native seed restoration project
needs.
(e) Not later than December 1, 2014, the Texas Department of
Transportation shall report the results of the study conducted
under this Act to the legislature and post the forecast of future
needs for native seeds on the department's Internet website.
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September
1, 2013.