Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1772 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	S.B. No. 1772
	1	+	87R28306 BEF-D
	2	+	By: Zaffirini, et al. S.B. No. 1772
	3	+	(Zwiener, Cyrier)
	4	+	Substitute the following for S.B. No. 1772: No.
2	5
3	6
	7	+	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
4	8		AN ACT
5	9		relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program
6	10		for solar energy sites.
7	11		BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
8	12		SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter K, Chapter 88,
9	13		Education Code, is amended to read as follows:
10	14		SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION [SERVICE]
11	15		SECTION 2. Section 88.821, Education Code, is amended to
12	16		read as follows:
13	17		Sec. 88.821. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "AgriLife
14	18		Extension" or "extension service" means [the] Texas A&M AgriLife
15	19		Extension [Service].
16	20		SECTION 3. Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is
17	21		amended by adding Section 88.824 to read as follows:
18	22		Sec. 88.824. TEXAS POLLINATOR-SMART PROGRAM. (a) AgriLife
19	23		Extension, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and
20	24		the Parks and Wildlife Department, shall establish and implement
21	25		the Texas Pollinator-Smart program to encourage the voluntary
22	26		establishment and conservation of habitats for bees, birds, and
23	27		other pollinators in and near solar energy sites.
24	28		(b) AgriLife Extension, in consultation with the Department
25	29		of Agriculture and the Parks and Wildlife Department, shall develop
26	30		educational materials for the program that include information
27	31		regarding:
28	32		(1) benefits to solar energy producers, neighboring
29	33		landowners, agricultural producers, and the environment of
30	34		providing pollinator habitats at solar energy sites;
31	35		(2) resources and practices for establishing and
32	36		maintaining pollinator habitats;
33	37		(3) native plant species compatible with solar energy
34	38		sites that provide habitat for pollinators;
35	39		(4) methods to prevent, identify, and eradicate
36	40		invasive species without causing harm to pollinators;
37	41		(5) any available grants or other financial incentives
38	42		for establishing or maintaining pollinator habitats;
39	43		(6) examples of pollinator habitats established at
40	44		solar energy sites in this state or other locations; and
41	45		(7) the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate under
42	46		Subsection (c).
43	47		(c) AgriLife Extension shall, in consultation with the
44	48		Department of Agriculture and the Parks and Wildlife Department,
45	49		award the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate to solar energy sites
46	50		with pollinator habitats that meet or achieve a standard determined
47	51		by AgriLife Extension.
48	52		(d) AgriLife Extension may provide advice and technical
49	53		assistance to participants and potential participants in the Texas
50	54		Pollinator-Smart program, including reports evaluating the
51	55		suitability of solar energy sites.
52	56		(e) Participation in the Texas Pollinator-Smart program by
53	57		a solar energy site is voluntary.
54	58		SECTION 4. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is required to
55	59		implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature
56	60		appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the
57	61		legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that
58	62		purpose, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension may, but is not required to,
59	63		implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations
60	64		available for that purpose.
61	65		SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
62		-	______________________________ ______________________________
63		-	President of the Senate Speaker of the House
64		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1772 passed the Senate on
65		-	May 3, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1; and that the
66		-	Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2021, by the
67		-	following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1.
68		-	______________________________
69		-	Secretary of the Senate
70		-	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1772 passed the House, with
71		-	amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 109,
72		-	Nays 38, two present not voting.
73		-	______________________________
74		-	Chief Clerk of the House
75		-	Approved:
76		-	______________________________
77		-	Date
78		-	______________________________
79		-	Governor