Bill Text: TX HB4067 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relating to the creation of a wet debris work group.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2019-05-14 - Referred to Water & Rural Affairs [HB4067 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB4067-Introduced.html

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By: Murr H.B. No. 4067

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a work group to study issues that
impede the removal of wet debris.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:
(1) "Work group" means the work group established
under this Act.
(2) "Wet debris" means natural or man-made debris
located in water bodies including lakes, rivers, streams, bays,
wetlands and tidal areas that result from a disaster as defined by
Section 418.004, Government Code.
SECTION 2. WORK GROUP ESTABLISHED. (a) The work group
shall be composed of representatives of local, state, and federal
governmental entities and private entities who are appointed by the
governor from a list of candidates submitted by the lieutenant
governor and the speaker of the house of representatives.
(b) The work group shall consist of, at a minimum,
representatives of:
(1) the Texas Department of Emergency Management;
(2) the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
(3) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality;
(4) the Texas Department of Transportation;
(5) the Texas General Land Office;
(6) the Texas Historical Commission;
(7) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration;
(8) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;
(9) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and
(10) local government stakeholders.
(c) The Texas Department of Emergency Management will act as
Group Leader for the work group.
(d) The work group shall consist of no more than 21 nor less
than 13 members.
(e) Appointments to the work group under Subsection (a) of
this section must be made not later than November 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. WORK GROUP DUTIES. (a) The work group shall
conduct a study on issues that impede the removal of wet debris.
(b) The study conducted under Subsection (a) of this section
must include:
(1) identification of wet debris removal categories
for water bodies in this state;
(2) identification of current jurisdictions of the
local, state, federal and private entities responsible for wet
debris removal;
(3) identification of concurrent, joint or
overlapping roles and responsibilities of the local, state, federal
and private entities responsible for wet debris removal;
(4) identification of the applicable laws for each wet
debris category;
(5) identification of funding sources applicable to
each wet debris removal category;
(6) identification of recurring issues encountered in
this state that impede wet debris removal; and
(7) recommendations for:
(A) minimizing issues that impede wet debris
removal;
(B) clarifying local, state, federal and private
entities' roles and responsibilities for wet debris removal; and
(c) educating statewide stakeholders on the
results of this study.
SECTION 4. REPORT. Not later than November 1, 2020, the
work group shall submit a written report to the members of the
legislature with the results of the study required under Section 3
of this Act.
SECTION 5. EXPIRATION DATE. This Act expires and the work
group is abolished January 1, 2021.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2019.