Bill Text: TX SB77 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the development of a climate adaptation plan by certain entities.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-01-26 - Referred to Natural Resources & Economic Development [SB77 Detail]
Download: Texas-2015-SB77-Introduced.html
| 84R647 JRR-D | ||
| By: Ellis | S.B. No. 77 | |
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| relating to the development of a climate adaptation plan by certain | ||
| entities. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subtitle C, Title 5, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Chapter 395 to read as follows: | ||
| CHAPTER 395. CLIMATE ADAPTATION PLAN | ||
| Sec. 395.001. PARTICIPATING ENTITIES. Not later than | ||
| September 1, 2016, and before the end of each successive four-year | ||
| period after that date, each of the following entities shall | ||
| publish a climate adaptation plan that will assess the entity's | ||
| role with respect to climate change: | ||
| (1) the Department of Agriculture; | ||
| (2) each independent organization certified under | ||
| Section 39.151, Utilities Code; | ||
| (3) the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality; | ||
| (4) the General Land Office; | ||
| (5) the Texas Department of Housing and Community | ||
| Affairs; | ||
| (6) the Texas Department of Insurance; | ||
| (7) the Parks and Wildlife Department; | ||
| (8) the Department of Public Safety of the State of | ||
| Texas; | ||
| (9) the Public Utility Commission of Texas; | ||
| (10) the office of the comptroller; | ||
| (11) the Texas A&M Forest Service; and | ||
| (12) the Texas Water Development Board. | ||
| Sec. 395.002. PLAN. (a) For the purposes of this chapter, | ||
| a climate adaptation plan is a strategy to identify, minimize, and | ||
| adequately prepare for the effects of climate change on the social, | ||
| economic, and ecological systems of this state and to manage the | ||
| risks associated with a changing climate. A plan under this chapter | ||
| must be based on current peer-reviewed climate science that | ||
| identifies the likely impacts of rising ambient temperatures, | ||
| rising sea levels, and changes in precipitation patterns on this | ||
| state. | ||
| (b) Each climate adaptation plan must include: | ||
| (1) a climate change vulnerability assessment; | ||
| (2) a review of existing programs in the context of | ||
| anticipated changing climate conditions; | ||
| (3) specific steps necessary for the entity to fulfill | ||
| its mission during the anticipated climate change; | ||
| (4) an analysis of the effects implementing the steps | ||
| identified under Subdivision (3) would have on the entity's budget | ||
| during the next 5 and 10 years; | ||
| (5) potential sources of funding to support the | ||
| entity's efforts to adapt to climate change; | ||
| (6) a statewide strategy to monitor the continuing | ||
| effects that climate change may have on the entity's ability to | ||
| fulfill the entity's missions; and | ||
| (7) a written statement by the Texas state | ||
| climatologist regarding the adequacy of the scientific basis of the | ||
| plan. | ||
| (c) In developing a climate adaptation plan, each entity | ||
| subject to this chapter shall: | ||
| (1) consider the most current assessment reports | ||
| created by the United States Global Change Research Program; and | ||
| (2) consult with the Texas state climatologist or | ||
| another climate expert employed at a Texas institution of higher | ||
| education or nonprofit research institution. | ||
| (d) Not later than September 1, 2016, and before the end of | ||
| each successive four-year period after that date, each entity | ||
| subject to this chapter shall post the entity's climate adaptation | ||
| plan on a publicly accessible Internet website and electronically | ||
| submit a copy of the plan to: | ||
| (1) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of | ||
| the house of representatives; | ||
| (2) the presiding officer of each standing committee | ||
| or subcommittee of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over | ||
| environmental matters; and | ||
| (3) the executive director of the Texas Commission on | ||
| Environmental Quality. | ||
| (e) Each climate adaptation plan is subject to audit by the | ||
| state auditor in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code. | ||
| 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, 2015. | ||
