Bill Text: TX SB1772 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program for solar energy sites.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Vetoed) 2021-06-18 - Vetoed by the Governor [SB1772 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1772-Introduced.html
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program for solar energy sites.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Vetoed) 2021-06-18 - Vetoed by the Governor [SB1772 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB1772-Introduced.html
87R11906 BEF-D | ||
By: Zaffirini | S.B. No. 1772 |
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relating to the establishment of the Texas Pollinator-Smart program | ||
for solar energy sites. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter K, Chapter 88, | ||
Education Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER K. TEXAS A&M AGRILIFE EXTENSION [ |
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SECTION 2. Section 88.821, Education Code, is amended to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 88.821. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "AgriLife | ||
Extension" or "extension service" means [ |
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Extension [ |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 88.824 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 88.824. TEXAS POLLINATOR-SMART PROGRAM. (a) AgriLife | ||
Extension shall establish and implement the Texas Pollinator-Smart | ||
program to encourage the voluntary establishment and conservation | ||
of habitats for bees, birds, and other pollinators in and near solar | ||
energy sites. | ||
(b) AgriLife Extension shall develop educational materials | ||
for the program that include information regarding: | ||
(1) benefits to solar energy producers, neighboring | ||
landowners, agricultural producers, and the environment of | ||
providing pollinator habitats at solar energy sites; | ||
(2) resources and practices for establishing and | ||
maintaining pollinator habitats; | ||
(3) native plant species compatible with solar energy | ||
sites that provide habitat for pollinators; | ||
(4) methods to prevent, identify, and eradicate | ||
invasive species without causing harm to pollinators; | ||
(5) any available grants or other financial incentives | ||
for establishing or maintaining pollinator habitats; | ||
(6) examples of pollinator habitats established at | ||
solar energy sites in this state or other locations; and | ||
(7) the Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard and | ||
certificate under Subsection (c). | ||
(c) AgriLife Extension shall: | ||
(1) develop a Texas Pollinator-Smart scorecard with | ||
criteria to evaluate and score pollinator habitats at solar energy | ||
sites in this state; and | ||
(2) award the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate to | ||
solar energy sites with pollinator habitats that meet or achieve a | ||
score determined by AgriLife Extension. | ||
(d) AgriLife Extension may provide advice and technical | ||
assistance to participants and potential participants in the Texas | ||
Pollinator-Smart program, including reports evaluating the | ||
suitability of solar energy sites. | ||
(e) Participation in the Texas Pollinator-Smart program by | ||
a solar energy site is voluntary. | ||
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |