Bill Text: TX HB841 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Center for Innovative Desalination Technology at the University of Houston in partnership with The University of Texas at El Paso.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 5-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-04-16 - Left pending in committee [HB841 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB841-Introduced.html
83R1622 JRJ-F | ||
By: Callegari | H.B. No. 841 |
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Center for Innovative | ||
Desalination Technology at the University of Houston in partnership | ||
with The University of Texas at El Paso. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Chapter 111, Education Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter J to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER J. TEXAS CENTER FOR INNOVATIVE | ||
DESALINATION TECHNOLOGY | ||
Sec. 111.131. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Board" means the board of regents of the | ||
University of Houston System. | ||
(2) "Center" means the Texas Center for Innovative | ||
Desalination Technology established under this subchapter. | ||
Sec. 111.132. ESTABLISHMENT. (a) The Texas Center for | ||
Innovative Desalination Technology is established as a joint | ||
partnership of the University of Houston and The University of | ||
Texas at El Paso. | ||
(b) The organization, control, and management of the center | ||
are vested in the board. | ||
(c) The center shall operate through the University of | ||
Houston's College of Engineering and The University of Texas at El | ||
Paso's Center for Inland Desalination Systems. Participation in | ||
the center's activities shall be open to any faculty member of | ||
either university who is an active researcher in the field of water | ||
desalination, engineering, hydrology, biology, water supply | ||
development, or energy efficiency or another relevant field as | ||
determined by the board. | ||
Sec. 111.133. PURPOSE. The center is created to: | ||
(1) promote interdisciplinary research, education, | ||
and training for the development of state-of-the-art products, | ||
materials, systems, and technologies designed for the desalination | ||
of seawater from the Gulf of Mexico and brackish water within | ||
surface and groundwater resources throughout the state; and | ||
(2) develop cost-effective, energy-efficient, and | ||
environmentally sound water desalination, brine disposal, and | ||
water conveyance technologies that can enhance the potential for | ||
desalinated water to contribute toward the state's long-term water | ||
portfolio. | ||
Sec. 111.134. POWERS AND DUTIES. The center shall: | ||
(1) collaborate with appropriate international, | ||
federal, state, and local agencies and private business or | ||
nonprofit entities as necessary to develop innovative desalination | ||
technologies; | ||
(2) research and develop innovative seawater and | ||
brackish water desalination technologies, including pretreatment | ||
technologies and improvements, that: | ||
(A) are energy efficient and cost effective; | ||
(B) minimize environmental impacts; and | ||
(C) offer long-term water supply solutions for | ||
the state; | ||
(3) research and develop brine disposal methods and | ||
technologies; | ||
(4) research and develop water conveyance systems and | ||
technologies that may be used to transport desalinated water to | ||
target use populations; | ||
(5) develop test facilities for evaluating the | ||
performance of new products, materials, or techniques; | ||
(6) develop specifications and standards for products | ||
used for desalinating water, conveying water, and disposing of | ||
brine; | ||
(7) provide public information, education, and | ||
outreach regarding desalination technologies and appropriate uses | ||
and conservation methods for desalinated water; and | ||
(8) provide data, recommendations, and any other | ||
information necessary relating to desalination for local, | ||
regional, or statewide water planning programs and processes. | ||
Sec. 111.135. COLLABORATION WITH OTHER ENTITIES. The | ||
University of Houston and The University of Texas at El Paso shall | ||
encourage public, private, and nonprofit entities to participate in | ||
or support the operation of the center and may enter into an | ||
agreement with any public, private, or nonprofit entity for that | ||
purpose. An agreement may allow the center to provide information, | ||
services, or other assistance to an entity in exchange for the | ||
entity's participation or support. | ||
Sec. 111.136. GIFTS AND GRANTS. The board may solicit, | ||
accept, and administer gifts and grants from any public or private | ||
source for the purposes of this subchapter. | ||
Sec. 111.137. PERSONNEL. The board may employ personnel | ||
for the center as the board considers necessary. | ||
Sec. 111.138. EXPIRATION. This subchapter expires | ||
September 1, 2023. | ||
SECTION 2. 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, 2013. |