| 1 | 1 | | 89R3542 KRM-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Menéndez S.B. No. 2850 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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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 task force on pollinator health. |
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| 10 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 11 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 131, Agriculture Code, is |
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| 12 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 131.011 to read as follows: |
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| 13 | 13 | | Sec. 131.011. TASK FORCE ON POLLINATOR HEALTH. (a) In this |
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| 14 | 14 | | section, "task force" means the task force on pollinator health |
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| 15 | 15 | | under this section. The governor shall establish the task force and |
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| 16 | 16 | | the membership of the task force. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) The task force consists of members appointed by the |
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| 18 | 18 | | governor, including: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) one member who is a university faculty member |
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| 20 | 20 | | specializing in the science of pollinator health; |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) one member representing an advocacy group for |
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| 22 | 22 | | nurseries and greenhouse producers; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (3) one member representing an advocacy group for |
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| 24 | 24 | | agriculture in this state; |
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| 25 | 25 | | (4) one member representing an advocacy group |
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| 26 | 26 | | dedicated to the protection of pollinators and invertebrates; |
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| 27 | 27 | | (5) one member representing an advocacy group for |
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| 28 | 28 | | pesticide applicators; |
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| 29 | 29 | | (6) one member who is certified as a master gardener by |
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| 30 | 30 | | the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and who represents the |
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| 31 | 31 | | public; |
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| 32 | 32 | | (7) one member who is a beekeeper and who represents |
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| 33 | 33 | | the public; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | (8) one member who is an employee of the Parks and |
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| 35 | 35 | | Wildlife Department who specializes in melittology. |
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| 36 | 36 | | (c) The task force shall undertake activities to examine |
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| 37 | 37 | | issues relevant to pollinator health, including: |
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| 38 | 38 | | (1) identifying ways the state can incentivize the |
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| 39 | 39 | | development of new pollinator habitat in residential, commercial, |
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| 40 | 40 | | and public areas; |
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| 41 | 41 | | (2) studying public education and outreach plans |
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| 42 | 42 | | regarding pollinator health that have been successful in other |
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| 43 | 43 | | states; |
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| 44 | 44 | | (3) investigating the means used by other states to |
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| 45 | 45 | | gather data on populations of bees or other pollinating insects; |
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| 46 | 46 | | and |
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| 47 | 47 | | (4) identifying ways to prevent loss of pollinator |
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| 48 | 48 | | habitat. |
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| 49 | 49 | | (d) The task force may take actions necessary and proper to |
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| 50 | 50 | | carry out the work of the task force, including scheduling hearings |
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| 51 | 51 | | and taking testimony on matters related to pollinator health. |
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| 52 | 52 | | (e) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes |
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| 53 | 53 | | a quorum for the transaction of business. |
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| 54 | 54 | | (f) Official action by the task force requires the approval |
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| 55 | 55 | | of a majority of the members of the task force. |
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| 56 | 56 | | (g) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as |
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| 57 | 57 | | presiding officer. |
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| 58 | 58 | | (h) The governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill a |
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| 59 | 59 | | vacancy on the task force. |
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| 60 | 60 | | (i) The task force shall meet at times and places specified |
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| 61 | 61 | | by the call of the presiding officer or of a majority of the members |
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| 62 | 62 | | of the task force. |
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| 63 | 63 | | (j) The task force may adopt bylaws necessary for the |
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| 64 | 64 | | operation of the task force. |
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| 65 | 65 | | (k) Not later than October 1, 2026, the task force shall |
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| 66 | 66 | | submit a report, which may include recommendations for legislation, |
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| 67 | 67 | | to the standing committees of the senate and the house of |
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| 68 | 68 | | representatives with primary jurisdiction over agriculture. The |
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| 69 | 69 | | task force may provide progress reports to those committees before |
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| 70 | 70 | | October 1, 2026. |
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| 71 | 71 | | (l) The governor may provide staff support to the task |
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| 72 | 72 | | force. |
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| 73 | 73 | | (m) Members of the task force are not entitled to |
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| 74 | 74 | | compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel |
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| 75 | 75 | | and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official |
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| 76 | 76 | | duties in the manner and amounts provided for in the General |
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| 77 | 77 | | Appropriations Act. |
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| 78 | 78 | | (n) Each state agency shall assist the task force in the |
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| 79 | 79 | | performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws |
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| 80 | 80 | | relating to confidentiality, shall furnish information and advice |
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| 81 | 81 | | that the members of the task force consider necessary to perform |
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| 82 | 82 | | their duties. |
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| 83 | 83 | | (o) A member of the task force may participate remotely in a |
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| 84 | 84 | | meeting of the task force by means of a video conference call or |
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| 85 | 85 | | online service. |
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| 86 | 86 | | (p) This section expires December 31, 2026. |
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| 87 | 87 | | SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the governor |
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| 88 | 88 | | shall appoint the members of the task force on pollinator health |
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| 89 | 89 | | under Section 131.011(b), Agriculture Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 90 | 90 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 91 | 91 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 92 | 92 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 93 | 93 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 94 | 94 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
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