By: Zaffirini, Powell S.B. No. 1772
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program
for solar energy sites.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter K, Chapter 88,
Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION [SERVICE]
SECTION 2. Section 88.821, Education Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 88.821. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "AgriLife
Extension" or "extension service" means [the] Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension [Service].
SECTION 3. Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 88.824 to read as follows:
Sec. 88.824. TEXAS POLLINATOR-SMART PROGRAM. (a) AgriLife
Extension shall establish and implement the Texas Pollinator-Smart
program to encourage the voluntary establishment and conservation
of habitats for bees, birds, and other pollinators in and near solar
energy sites.
(b) AgriLife Extension shall develop educational materials
for the program that include information regarding:
(1) benefits to solar energy producers, neighboring
landowners, agricultural producers, and the environment of
providing pollinator habitats at solar energy sites;
(2) resources and practices for establishing and
maintaining pollinator habitats;
(3) native plant species compatible with solar energy
sites that provide habitat for pollinators;
(4) methods to prevent, identify, and eradicate
invasive species without causing harm to pollinators;
(5) any available grants or other financial incentives
for establishing or maintaining pollinator habitats;
(6) examples of pollinator habitats established at
solar energy sites in this state or other locations; and
(7) the Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard and
certificate under Subsection (c).
(c) AgriLife Extension shall:
(1) develop a Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard with
criteria to evaluate and score pollinator habitats at solar energy
sites in this state; and
(2) award the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate to
solar energy sites with pollinator habitats that meet or achieve a
score determined by AgriLife Extension.
(d) AgriLife Extension may provide advice and technical
assistance to participants and potential participants in the Texas
Pollinator-Smart program, including reports evaluating the
suitability of solar energy sites.
(e) Participation in the Texas Pollinator-Smart program by
a solar energy site is voluntary.
SECTION 4. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is required to
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
purpose, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension may, but is not required to,
implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations
available for that purpose.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.