Bill Text: TX HB1956 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to information on projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain state agencies.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-15 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1956 Detail]

Download: Texas-2021-HB1956-Introduced.html

---

By: Beckley H.B. No. 1956

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to information on projected changes in weather, water
availability, and climate variability in strategic plans of certain
state agencies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 2056.002(b), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) The Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Office
of Budget, Policy, and Planning shall determine the elements
required to be included in each agency's strategic plan. Unless
modified by the Legislative Budget Board and the Governor's Office
of Budget, Policy, and Planning, and except as provided by
Subsection (c), a plan must include:
(1) a statement of the mission and goals of the state
agency;
(2) a description of the indicators developed under
this chapter and used to measure the output and outcome of the
agency;
(3) identification of the groups of people served by
the agency, including those having service priorities, or other
service measures established by law, and estimates of changes in
those groups expected during the term of the plan;
(4) an analysis of the use of the agency's resources to
meet the agency's needs, including future needs, and an estimate of
additional resources that may be necessary to meet future needs;
(5) an analysis of expected changes in the services
provided by the agency because of changes in state or federal law;
(6) a description of the means and strategies for
meeting the agency's needs, including future needs, and achieving
the goals established under Section 2056.006 for each area of state
government for which the agency provides services;
(7) a description of the capital improvement needs of
the agency during the term of the plan and a statement, if
appropriate, of the priority of those needs;
(8) identification of each geographic region of this
state, including the Texas-Louisiana border region and the
Texas-Mexico border region, served by the agency, and if
appropriate the agency's means and strategies for serving each
region;
(9) a description of the training of the agency's
contract managers under Section 2262.053;
(10) an analysis of the agency's expected expenditures
that relate to federally owned or operated military installations
or facilities, or communities where a federally owned or operated
military installation or facility is located;
(11) an analysis of the strategic use of information
resources as provided by the instructions prepared under Section
2054.095; [and]
(12) for the Department of Agriculture, Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality, General Land Office, Texas
Department of Housing and Community Affairs, Texas Department of
Insurance, Parks and Wildlife Department, Department of Public
Safety, Public Utility Commission of Texas, office of the
comptroller, Texas A&M Forest Service, and Texas Water Development
Board:
(A) an analysis of expected changes, including
adverse impacts, in the services provided by the agency because of
projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate
variability, as determined by the Texas state climatologist's
report under Section 2056.005(c);
(B) for each period described in Section
2056.005(c), a description of the means and strategies for meeting
the agency's needs and managing the risks associated with the
projected changes in weather, water availability, and climate
variability as determined by the report; and
(C) for the means and strategies described by
Paragraph (B):
(i) identification of any financial
resources that will be needed to carry out those means and
strategies; and
(ii) an analysis of partnerships and
cooperation between the agency and other state, local, and federal
governmental entities that will be needed to carry out those means
and strategies; and
(13) other information that may be required.
SECTION 2. Section 2056.005, Government Code, is amended by
adding Subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f) to read as follows:
(c) Not later than February 1 of each even-numbered year,
the Texas state climatologist shall provide to the Legislative
Budget Board, for use in the strategic planning of a state agency
listed in Section 2056.002(b)(12), a report on projected changes in
weather, water availability, and climate variability across the
state for a period of:
(1) five years beginning with the next odd-numbered
year; and
(2) at least 20 years and not longer than 50 years
beginning with the next odd-numbered year.
(d) The report under Subsection (c) may include:
(1) projections of precipitation;
(2) projections of temperature;
(3) projections of stream flow in Texas rivers;
(4) projections of evaporation rates;
(5) projections of soil moisture rates;
(6) projections of sea level changes;
(7) projections of coastal storm intensity;
(8) projections of inland and coastal flood intensity;
(9) likely ranges of variability for all projections;
(10) any estimations of the likelihood of the
forecasts, as considered appropriate by the Texas state
climatologist; and
(11) any additional factors that are considered useful
for state agency strategic planning by the Texas state
climatologist.
(e) The Texas state climatologist may use a forecast created
outside of the office of the state climatologist if the forecast is
considered suitable by the climatologist for the requirements of
the report.
(f) Not later than March 1 of each even-numbered year, the
Legislative Budget Board shall distribute the report provided under
Subsection (c) to the state agencies listed in Section
2056.002(b)(12) for use in each agency's strategic planning.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.