Bill Text: TX HB71 | 2021 | 87th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-08-06 - Filed [HB71 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB71-Introduced.html
| By: Reynolds | H.B. No. 71 | |
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| relating to the creation of the Climate Change Impact Assessment | ||
| Council. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "council" means the Climate | ||
| Change Impact Assessment Council established by this Act. | ||
| (b) The council is established to study the impact of | ||
| climate change on the health, safety, and welfare of the residents | ||
| of this state. | ||
| (c) The council is composed of the following members: | ||
| (1) two members of the senate appointed by the | ||
| lieutenant governor; | ||
| (2) two members of the house of representatives | ||
| appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and | ||
| (3) seven members of the public appointed jointly by | ||
| the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of | ||
| representatives, including: | ||
| (A) one member with expertise in climatology; | ||
| (B) one member with expertise in this state's | ||
| economy; | ||
| (C) one member with expertise in land management | ||
| and natural resource maintenance; and | ||
| (D) one member representing the tourism | ||
| industry. | ||
| (d) A public member of the council is entitled to | ||
| reimbursement of the travel expenses incurred by the member while | ||
| conducting the business of the council, as provided by the General | ||
| Appropriations Act. | ||
| (e) The House Committee on Environmental Regulation and the | ||
| Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development | ||
| shall provide personnel and administrative support to the council | ||
| as needed. | ||
| (f) The council shall conduct a study to: | ||
| (1) assess the current and potential effects of | ||
| climate change trends on the residents, natural resources, public | ||
| health, and economy of this state; | ||
| (2) estimate the costs to this state of adverse | ||
| effects associated with climate change; | ||
| (3) research measures for preventing or mitigating the | ||
| effects of flooding, erosion, drought, and wildfires that may be | ||
| caused or worsened by climate change; and | ||
| (4) recommend legislation or other regulations to | ||
| minimize the adverse impact of climate change on this state. | ||
| (g) The council shall hold public hearings in various parts | ||
| of this state to gather information related to the council's study. | ||
| (h) Not later than January 1, 2023, the council shall | ||
| prepare and submit a report to the legislature containing the | ||
| findings of the study described in Subsection (f) of this section. | ||
| (i) The council is abolished and this Act expires September | ||
| 1, 2023. | ||
| SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2022, the lieutenant | ||
| governor and the speaker of the house of representatives shall | ||
| appoint members to the Climate Change Impact Assessment Council as | ||
| required by this Act. | ||
| SECTION 3. This Act takes effect on the 91st day after the | ||
| last day of the legislative session. | ||
