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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a study on waste reduction and a statewide waste |
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reduction plan. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Commission" means the Texas Commission on |
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Environmental Quality. |
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(2) "Recycling" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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361.421, Health and Safety Code. |
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(3) "Waste reduction" means reducing the amount and |
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toxicity of waste, including: |
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(A) source reduction, as that term is defined by |
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Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code; |
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(B) reusing materials or diverting materials |
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from a waste stream; and |
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(C) recycling. |
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SECTION 2. ADVISORY COMMITTEE; STUDY. (a) The commission |
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shall convene an advisory committee established under Chapter 361, |
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Health and Safety Code. |
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(b) The commission and the advisory committee shall conduct |
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a study regarding waste reduction in this state. The study must: |
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(1) assess current waste reduction efforts and |
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identify ways in which the private and public sectors can improve |
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and increase those efforts; |
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(2) assess the effectiveness of waste reduction |
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statutes, regulations, and programs in this state; |
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(3) assess the extent to which waste reduction |
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programs in this state are duplicative; |
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(4) investigate available funding for waste reduction |
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programs in this state; |
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(5) review waste reduction education programs in this |
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state; |
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(6) review standards in use in this state for: |
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(A) training and certification of waste |
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reduction professionals; and |
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(B) reporting amounts of waste recycled; |
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(7) review waste reduction best practices; |
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(8) assess the economic effects of waste reduction; |
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(9) assess job creation opportunities associated with |
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recycling; and |
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(10) review recycling activities in this state, |
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including the materials being recycled and the facilities and |
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programs that accept or use recycled materials in this state. |
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(c) The advisory committee shall prepare a written report on |
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the results of the study, submit the report to the commission, and |
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collaborate with the commission to publish the study on the |
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commission's Internet website. |
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SECTION 3. GOAL UPDATE. The commission shall use the report |
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described by Section 2 of this Act to reassess whether the source |
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reduction and recycling goal established under Section 361.422, |
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Health and Safety Code, is being achieved and how the goal might be |
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updated. |
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SECTION 4. PLAN UPDATES. The commission shall recommend to |
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each entity that has adopted a solid waste management plan under |
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Subchapter D, Chapter 363, Health and Safety Code, ways in which the |
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entity can update the plan based on the report described by Section |
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2 of this Act. |
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SECTION 5. REPORT TO LEGISLATURE. Not later than December |
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1, 2014, the commission shall submit to the lieutenant governor, |
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the speaker of the house of representatives, and the presiding |
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officer of the standing committee of each house of the legislature |
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with primary jurisdiction over environmental matters a report that |
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includes the results of the study described by Section 2 of this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 6. EXPIRATION. This Act expires August 31, 2015. |
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SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |