Bill Text: TX SB1772 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Enrolled
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-Enrolled.html
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, in consultation with the Department of Agriculture and | ||
the Parks and Wildlife Department, 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, in consultation with the Department | ||
of Agriculture and the Parks and Wildlife Department, 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 certificate under | ||
Subsection (c). | ||
(c) AgriLife Extension shall, in consultation with the | ||
Department of Agriculture and the Parks and Wildlife Department, | ||
award the Texas Pollinator-Smart certificate to solar energy sites | ||
with pollinator habitats that meet or achieve a standard 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. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is required to | ||
implement a provision of this Act only if the legislature | ||
appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the | ||
legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that | ||
purpose, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension may, but is not required to, | ||
implement a provision of this Act using other appropriations | ||
available for that purpose. | ||
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. | ||
______________________________ | ______________________________ | |
President of the Senate | Speaker of the House | |
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1772 passed the Senate on | ||
May 3, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 29, Nays 1; and that the | ||
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 29, 2021, by the | ||
following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 1. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Secretary of the Senate | ||
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1772 passed the House, with | ||
amendment, on May 26, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 109, | ||
Nays 38, two present not voting. | ||
______________________________ | ||
Chief Clerk of the House | ||
Approved: | ||
______________________________ | ||
Date | ||
______________________________ | ||
Governor |