Bill Text: TX HB801 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a task force to conduct a comprehensive study on flood control infrastructure for Harris County.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-02-25 - Referred to Natural Resources [HB801 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HB801-Introduced.html

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86R1009 JAM-D
By: Walle H.B. No. 801

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the establishment of a task force to conduct a
comprehensive study on flood control infrastructure for Harris
County.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. (a) In this section, "task force" means the task
force on flood control infrastructure established under this
section.
(b) The task force is established to conduct a comprehensive
flood control infrastructure study for Harris County. The study
must:
(1) assess the existing infrastructure in Harris
County with respect to flood control; and
(2) identify infrastructure improvements necessary to
mitigate flooding in that county.
(c) The task force is composed of 11 members as follows:
(1) one person appointed by the governor;
(2) one person appointed by the lieutenant governor;
(3) one person appointed by the speaker of the house of
representatives;
(4) two representatives of the University of Houston's
Hobby School of Public Affairs or Cullen College of Engineering,
one of whom is appointed by the author of this Act and one of whom is
appointed by the sponsor of this Act;
(5) two representatives of Texas Southern University's
Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs or Department
of Transportation Studies, one of whom is appointed by the author of
this Act and one of whom is appointed by the sponsor of this Act;
(6) one representative of the mayor of the City of
Houston, appointed by the mayor;
(7) one representative of the Harris County
Commissioners Court, appointed by the commissioners court;
(8) one other person appointed by the author of this
Act; and
(9) one other person appointed by the sponsor of this
Act.
(d) One member appointed under Subsection (c)(4) of this
section serves as the presiding officer of the task force, and one
member appointed under Subsection (c)(5) of this section serves as
the assistant presiding officer.
(e) The Hobby School of Public Affairs and the Cullen
College of Engineering of the University of Houston shall provide
necessary staff and administrative support to the task force.
(f) The Harris County Flood Control District shall serve as
an advisor to the task force by reviewing task force work products
and providing data and other information necessary to conduct the
study.
(g) The task force shall prepare a report that includes:
(1) a description of the activities of the task force;
(2) the findings and recommendations of the task
force, including any proposed policy recommendations; and
(3) any proposals for legislation or other matters the
task force considers appropriate.
(h) Not later than December 1, 2020, the task force shall
submit the report prepared under this section to:
(1) the governor;
(2) the lieutenant governor;
(3) the speaker of the house of representatives; and
(4) the presiding officers of the standing committees
of the senate and house of representatives having primary
jurisdiction over issues relating to flood control infrastructure.
(i) The task force is abolished and this Act expires January
1, 2021.
SECTION 2. This Act does not make an appropriation. A
provision of this Act that imposes a new duty on a governmental
entity is not mandatory during a fiscal period for which the
legislature has not made a specific appropriation to implement the
provision.
SECTION 3. 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.