By: Thompson of Brazoria (Senate Sponsor - Perry) H.B. No. 2759
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 2023;
April 18, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,
Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 4, 2023, reported favorably by the
following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 4, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology
Network and creation of the TexMesonet Advisory Committee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 16.012(b), Water Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The executive administrator shall:
(1) determine suitable locations for future water
facilities, including reservoir sites;
(2) determine suitable, cost-effective water supply
alternatives on a regional basis, including voluntary means of
encouraging aggressive water conservation;
(3) locate land best suited for irrigation;
(4) make estimates of the cost of proposed irrigation
works and the improvement of reservoir sites;
(5) examine and survey reservoir sites;
(6) monitor the effects of fresh water inflows upon
the bays and estuaries of Texas;
(7) monitor instream flows;
(7-a) monitor hydrometeorological conditions;
(8) lead a statewide effort, in coordination with
federal, state, and local governments, institutions of higher
education, and other interested parties, to develop a network for
collecting and disseminating water resource-related information
that is sufficient to support assessment of ambient water
conditions statewide;
(9) make recommendations for optimizing the
efficiency and effectiveness of water resource data collection and
dissemination as necessary to ensure that basic water resource data
are maintained and available for Texas; and
(10) make basic data and summary information developed
under this subsection accessible to state agencies and other
interested persons.
SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 16, Water Code, is amended
by adding Section 16.026 to read as follows:
Sec. 16.026. TEXMESONET HYDROMETEOROLOGY NETWORK;
TEXMESONET ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) In this section, "network"
means the TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network.
(b) The executive administrator shall establish the
TexMesonet Hydrometeorology Network to provide a statewide
resource for hydrometeorological data and summary information
benefiting weather forecasting, flood preparedness, drought
monitoring, wildfire management, water resources planning, water
conservation, agricultural readiness and productivity, industrial
readiness, and related business readiness and productivity across
this state.
(c) The network shall:
(1) establish a series of stations throughout this
state to monitor hydrometeorological conditions;
(2) coordinate mesoscale, evapotranspiration, and
soil moisture monitoring efforts in this state by:
(A) collecting, receiving, analyzing,
processing, and facilitating access to basic hydrometeorological
data; and
(B) developing and disseminating products,
tools, and summary information related to that data;
(3) serve as the centralized repository for
hydrometeorological data in this state; and
(4) provide appropriate technical assistance related
to the duties described by Subdivisions (1)-(3).
(d) The executive administrator may, on behalf of the
network, enter into:
(1) any agreement with an individual or a federal,
state, or local governmental entity to provide site location and
access for earth observation stations; and
(2) a partnership with a public or private entity to
provide additional funding and resources for improved access to and
development of hydrometeorological data, products, and tools.
(e) Each state agency or political subdivision of this state
that collects hydrometeorological information, including public
institutions of higher education, shall cooperate with the network
in the development of a coordinated, efficient, and effective
statewide hydrometeorological data collection and dissemination
resource.
(f) The executive administrator may establish the
TexMesonet Advisory Committee to advise and make recommendations to
the executive administrator on ensuring data quality and optimizing
the efficiency and effectiveness of hydrometeorological data
collection, product development, and dissemination of data and
information. Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the
size, composition, or duration of the advisory committee. Members
of the advisory committee serve without compensation but are
entitled to reimbursement for actual or necessary expenses incurred
in performing functions as a member of the advisory committee
subject to any applicable limitation on reimbursement provided by
the General Appropriations Act. The committee may include members
representing the following entities or interest groups:
(1) the office of the state climatologist;
(2) the National Weather Service;
(3) existing hydrometeorological networks; and
(4) other appropriate entities.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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