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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and duties of the Global Climate Change |
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Commission. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. STATEMENT OF POLICY. (a) There is broad |
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agreement between nations, across states, and among scientists that |
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increasing emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, and other |
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greenhouse gases released into the earth's atmosphere are affecting |
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the earth's climate. |
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(b) There is further consensus that global climate change, |
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national security, and energy dependence are a related set of |
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global challenges. |
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(c) The potential adverse effects of global climate change |
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in the coming decades include extreme weather events, drought, a |
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decline in air quality, rising sea levels and global temperatures, |
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and exacerbation of challenges such as infectious disease and |
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terrorism. |
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(d) The state of the world's climate in the future largely |
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depends on how global leaders react to global climate change now. |
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(e) Many states and countries have reached across borders to |
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collaborate and develop policies to reduce greenhouse gas |
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emissions, spur private investment in clean energy, and enhance |
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energy security. |
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(f) By not taking aggressive action to reduce greenhouse gas |
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emissions, the state is missing out on an opportunity to become a |
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global leader in protecting against global climate change and risks |
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exposing the state's economy and its citizens to unmitigated |
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consequences. |
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(g) Global warming will have deleterious effects on the |
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state's labor productivity, infrastructure, and industries, |
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including agriculture, water, energy, forestry, and tourism. |
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(h) Actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as |
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energy conservation and development of renewable energy sources, |
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may have multiple benefits, including economic development, job |
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creation, cost savings, and improved air quality in and beyond the |
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boundaries of this state. |
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(i) Recognizing the potential threat to the environment, |
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economy, and national security, it is the intent of the Texas |
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Legislature to create a global climate change commission committed |
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to working toward mitigating the impacts of global climate change |
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nationally and internationally. |
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SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Global Climate Change |
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Commission. |
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(2) "Greenhouse gas" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 403.028, Government Code. |
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(3) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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SECTION 3. COMMISSION CREATED; COMPOSITION. (a) The Global |
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Climate Change Commission is created. |
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(b) The commission is composed of: |
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(1) one member appointed by the governor; |
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(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor; |
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(3) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of |
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representatives; |
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(4) one member appointed by the most senior member of |
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the minority party of the house of representatives; |
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(5) one member appointed by the most senior member of |
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the minority party of the senate; and |
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(6) the following members appointed evenly between the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of |
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representatives: |
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(A) a representative of the public energy sector; |
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(B) a representative of rural electric |
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cooperatives; |
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(C) a representative of the municipal |
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electricity sector; |
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(D) two representatives of separate nonprofit |
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environmental organizations; |
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(E) three scientists at separate institutions of |
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higher education, including one climatologist; |
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(F) an economist from an institution of higher |
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education; |
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(G) a representative of business and industry; |
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(H) a representative of the manufacturing or |
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mining industry; |
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(I) a representative of the agriculture or |
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forestry industry; |
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(J) a representative of the fossil fuel industry; |
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(K) a representative from the Health and Human |
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Services Commission; and |
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(L) four representatives of the public. |
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SECTION 4. PRESIDING OFFICER; MEETINGS; COMPENSATION. (a) |
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The commission shall elect one of its members to serve as presiding |
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officer. |
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(b) The commission shall meet at least quarterly and at the |
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call of the presiding officer. |
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(c) A commission member is not entitled to receive |
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compensation for service on the commission but is entitled to |
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reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while |
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conducting the business of the commission, as provided by the |
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General Appropriations Act. |
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SECTION 5. DUTIES OF COMMISSION. (a) Not later than |
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September 1, 2016, the commission shall prepare and deliver a |
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comprehensive inventory and forecast of greenhouse gas emissions in |
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this state from 2000 to 2030 to the governor, lieutenant governor, |
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speaker of the house of representatives, state energy conservation |
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office, and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. |
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(b) The commission shall: |
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(1) design a multiregional, multistate, and |
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multilateral approach to: |
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(A) reduce greenhouse gas emissions; |
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(B) reduce energy demands; |
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(C) protect public health; and |
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(D) increase public and private investment in |
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clean energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure; |
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(2) assess the impact of global climate change on |
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important matters of national security; and |
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(3) develop and recommend a portfolio of feasible and |
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affordable policy options to reduce this state's vulnerability to |
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the predictable effects of global climate change. |
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(c) The commission shall submit a preliminary written |
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report of its activities and progress under Subsection (b) of this |
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section to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house |
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of representatives, state energy conservation office, and Texas |
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Commission on Environmental Quality not later than September 1, |
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2016. The report must include a comprehensive and coordinated plan |
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for adapting the state's economy, infrastructure, security |
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policies, and public health policies to: |
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(1) address the consequences of global climate change; |
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and |
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(2) ensure continued economic global competitiveness. |
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(d) The commission shall submit a final written report of |
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its activities and recommendations under Subsection (b) of this |
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section on or before January 1, 2017, to the legislature, including |
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the state affairs committee of each house of the legislature. |
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SECTION 6. APPOINTMENTS. As soon as possible after this Act |
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takes effect: |
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(1) the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the |
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house of representatives, and members of the legislature described |
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by Section 3 of this Act shall make the appointments required by |
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that section; and |
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(2) the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of |
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the house of representatives or their designees shall meet to |
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apportion the appointments under Section 3(b)(6) of this Act. |
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SECTION 7. EXPIRATION. This Act expires and the commission |
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is abolished effective March 1, 2017. |
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SECTION 8. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September |
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1, 2015. |