Texas Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes - Article 2654-3g. Texas Environmental Education Partnership; Fund Creation And Administration
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Art. 2654-3g. TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP;
FUND CREATION AND ADMINISTRATION.
Definitions
Sec. 1. In this Act:
(1) "Board" means the board of directors of the TEEP Fund.
(2) "Participating partner" means an entity designated as a
participating partner under Section 4 of this Act.
(3) "TEEP Fund" means the Texas Environmental Education
Partnership Fund established under Section 2 of this Act.
(4) "TEEP trust fund" means the Texas Environmental
Education Partnership trust fund established under Section 6 of
this Act.
Establishment of Texas Environmental Education Partnership Fund
Sec. 2. The Texas Environmental Education Partnership Fund is
established and shall operate as a public/private nonprofit
education partnership.
Purpose
Sec. 3. The purpose of the Texas Environmental Education
Partnership Fund is to:
(1) raise money from a diversity of resources to pay for the
development, implementation, and continued operation of
environmental education projects, activities, and programs
proposed by a participating partner, including:
(A) scholarships for educators (formal and informal) for
professional development in the area of environmental education;
(B) environmental education projects, activities, or
programs approved by the board;
(C) support of efforts to ensure that textbooks treat
environmental issues with a balanced approach and explain the
underlying scientific principles;
(D) ensuring system-wide assessment of essential knowledge
and skills identified by the State Board of Education as required by
Subsections (c) and (d), Section 28.002, Education Code, as related
to environmental education; and
(E) environmental education materials;
(2) review for approval and funding environmental education
projects, activities, and programs proposed by a participating
partner; and
(3) establish a working relationship between the TEEP Fund
and state agencies with educational functions, such as the Texas
Education Agency.
Designation of Participating Partner
Sec. 4. (a) The board shall designate one or more
public/private partnership entities as a participating partner to
develop and propose environmental education projects, activities,
and programs to receive assistance from the TEEP Fund.
(b) A participating partner must represent a broad spectrum
of public and private interests relating to scientifically based
and balanced environmental and educational concerns.
TEEP Fund Board
Sec. 5. (a) The board consists of not more than 11 members
appointed as follows:
(1) nine members appointed by the governor to provide
balanced representation from the following groups:
(A) business and industry;
(B) agriculture;
(C) nongovernmental organizations;
(D) K-12 educators;
(E) university educators;
(F) local and state government;
(G) environmental education providers;
(H) environmental groups; and
(I) parents;
(2) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor to
represent the senate; and
(3) one member appointed by the governor selected from a
list of persons recommended for membership by the speaker of the
house of representatives to represent the house of representatives.
(b) The group of nine members appointed by the governor
under Subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be culturally,
ethnically, and geographically diverse.
(c) Board members serve staggered six-year terms with the
terms of three or four members expiring February 1 of each
odd-numbered year.
(d) A board member serves at the will of the appointing
official.
(e) A board member representing the senate or house of
representatives is a nonvoting member.
(f) A board member is not entitled to compensation but is
entitled to reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses
incurred in performing board duties.
(g) The board may accept donations, gifts, grants, or other
money made available to the TEEP Fund for the purposes of this Act.
The board shall deposit to the credit of the TEEP trust fund a
donation, gift, grant, or other money accepted by the board under
this subsection.
TEEP Trust Fund
Sec. 6. (a) The Texas Environmental Education Partnership
trust fund is established as a trust fund outside the treasury to be
held by the Texas Treasury Safekeeping Trust Company and
administered by the board of the Texas Environmental Education
Partnership Fund for the benefit of:
(1) a participating partner; or
(2) environmental education projects, activities, and
programs proposed by a participating partner and approved by the
board.
(b) Money in the fund may be used only to:
(1) award grants or money for environmental education
projects, activities, and programs proposed by a participating
partner and approved by the board; and
(2) reimburse board members for actual expenses incurred in
performing board duties as authorized by Subsection (f) of Section
5 of this Act.
(c) The trust fund consists of donations, gifts, grants, or
other money made available to the TEEP Fund for the purposes of this
Act.
(d) Notwithstanding Subsection (b) of this section, in any
fiscal year the board may use for the board's administrative costs
an amount equal to not more than seven percent of the amount
deposited to the credit of the fund that was given to the board for
supplemental environmental projects under Section 7.067, Water
Code.
Eligibility Criteria
Sec. 7. (a) The board shall adopt and publish eligibility
criteria to be considered in making a grant or award of money from
the trust fund.
(b) The criteria adopted by the board shall:
(1) include consideration of whether a proposed project,
activity, or program will:
(A) improve the quality of environmental education in the
state;
(B) identify, use, or increase resources for environmental
education; and
(C) be adaptable to and represent the diverse environmental
aspects of the state; and
(2) give primary consideration to projects, activities, and
programs that:
(A) promote balanced views based on sound science;
(B) include instruction on or exercises in critical
thinking; and
(C) promote the protection of environmental resources.
Sunset Provision
Sec. 8. Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1112, Sec.
6.01(3), eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
Appointment of Board
Sec. 9. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective date of
this Act, the governor, the lieutenant governor, and the speaker of
the house of representatives shall appoint members to the board as
provided by Subsection (a) of Section 5 of this Act.
(b) The initial members of the board are appointed for terms
expiring February 1, 2001.
Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 105, eff. May 17, 1999; Sec. 6(d) added by
Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 717, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003; Sec. 8
repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1112, Sec. 6.01(3), eff. Sept.
1, 2003; Sec. 5(a) amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch. 626, Sec. 1,
eff. Sept. 1, 2005; Sec. 5(b) amended by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., ch.
626, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2005; Sec. 5(c) amended by Acts 2005,
79th Leg., ch. 626, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.
Article: 2740f-2 2740f-3 2740f-4 2740f-5 2740g 2740h 2619b 2654-3g 3183b-1 3264c 3264d 3860 3861 3862 3863
Last modified: August 10, 2007
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