| 1 | 1 | | 83R12085 VOO-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Dukes H.B. No. 450 |
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| 3 | 3 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 450: |
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| 4 | 4 | | By: Giddings C.S.H.B. No. 450 |
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| 5 | 5 | | |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 8 | 8 | | AN ACT |
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| 9 | 9 | | relating to the designation of a state climatologist and the |
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| 10 | 10 | | operation of a state climate office. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subtitle E, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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| 13 | 13 | | by adding Chapter 470 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | CHAPTER 470. STATE CLIMATOLOGIST AND STATE CLIMATE OFFICE |
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| 15 | 15 | | Sec. 470.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "state agency" |
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| 16 | 16 | | means a department, commission, board, office, or other agency in |
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| 17 | 17 | | the executive branch of state government, including a university |
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| 18 | 18 | | system or institution of higher education as defined by Section |
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| 19 | 19 | | 61.003, Education Code. |
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| 20 | 20 | | Sec. 470.002. DESIGNATION OF STATE CLIMATOLOGIST. (a) The |
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| 21 | 21 | | governor shall appoint an officer or employee of a state agency as |
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| 22 | 22 | | the state climatologist from a list submitted by the speaker of the |
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| 23 | 23 | | house of representatives and the lieutenant governor. |
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| 24 | 24 | | (b) To be eligible for designation as the state |
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| 25 | 25 | | climatologist, an individual must have: |
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| 26 | 26 | | (1) a graduate degree with specialization in climate |
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| 27 | 27 | | studies or a closely related field of study; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | (2) extensive experience in employing climate data for |
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| 29 | 29 | | use by legislative, public, and private entities. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (c) Service as the state climatologist by an officer or |
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| 31 | 31 | | employee of a state agency is an additional duty of the individual's |
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| 32 | 32 | | office or employment. |
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| 33 | 33 | | Sec. 470.003. STATE CLIMATE OFFICE. The state |
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| 34 | 34 | | climatologist shall operate a state climate office that meets or |
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| 35 | 35 | | exceeds the standards and level of service required for recognition |
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| 36 | 36 | | by the American Association of State Climatologists or an |
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| 37 | 37 | | appropriate successor organization. |
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| 38 | 38 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 39 | 39 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 40 | 40 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 41 | 41 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 42 | 42 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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