Bill Text: TX HB1135 | 2013-2014 | 83rd Legislature | Engrossed
Bill Title: Relating to a study conducted by the Texas Department of Transportation regarding the production of and use of native seeds.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2013-05-15 - Left pending in committee [HB1135 Detail]
Download: Texas-2013-HB1135-Engrossed.html
83R19454 AED-D | ||
By: Villarreal | H.B. No. 1135 |
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relating to a study conducted by the Texas Department of | ||
Transportation regarding the production of and use of native seeds. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. STUDY AND REPORT. (a) In this section, "native | ||
plant" and "native seed" mean a plant or a seed from a plant that is | ||
found in, and naturally endemic to, ecosystems, sites, or regions | ||
in the present borders of this state, as to which the best available | ||
information indicates an indigenous nature precluding the plant's | ||
or seed's introduction or transport to this state from some other | ||
location by nonnatural conveyances. The terms include improved | ||
varieties of native seeds. Plants and seeds that do not meet the | ||
definition of "native plant" or "native seed" are designated as | ||
"nonnative." | ||
(b) The Texas Department of Transportation shall conduct a | ||
study based on a review of the use of native seed in projects | ||
related to land restoration and soil stabilization by the | ||
department and its contractors and assignees for the years 2008 | ||
through 2012, and shall report the department's historic use of | ||
native seed by geographic region or district. | ||
(c) In conducting the study and preparing the report, the | ||
Texas Department of Transportation shall consider: | ||
(1) geographic, regional, or district use of specific | ||
varieties of native seed for restoration projects administered by | ||
the department and its contractors or assignees; | ||
(2) determinations of the percentage of the | ||
department's restoration projects using native seed versus | ||
nonnative seed, including blends of native and nonnative seed, by | ||
geographic region or district and projects performed by the | ||
department and its contractors or assignees; and | ||
(3) methodologies and procedures that the department | ||
and its contractors or assignees must use to forecast the future | ||
needs for native seed for restoration projects by geographic | ||
region. | ||
(d) The Texas Department of Transportation shall develop | ||
methodologies and procedures for forecasting the department's and | ||
its contractors' and assignees' future needs for native seeds for | ||
the years 2015 through 2020. The department shall continue to | ||
maintain a five-year forecast for native seed restoration project | ||
needs. | ||
(e) Not later than December 1, 2014, the Texas Department of | ||
Transportation shall report the results of the study conducted | ||
under this Act to the legislature and post the forecast of future | ||
needs for native seeds on the department's Internet website. | ||
SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect September | ||
1, 2013. |