The fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined because the amounts and timing of any grant distributions, appropriations, grant distributions, depository interest, and gifts, grants, or donations are unknown.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill. The Department of Agriculture is required to award grants under the provisions of the bill only if the legislature appropriates money specifically for that purpose. If the legislature does not appropriate money specifically for that purpose, the Department of Agriculture may, but is not required to, award grants under the provisions of the bill using other appropriations available for that purpose.
The bill would amend the Agriculture Code by adding Chapter 23 regarding food system security and resiliency planning.
The bill would require the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to establish the Texas food system security and resiliency planning council, comprised of 16 members, to provide guidance to the office of food system security and resiliency if that office is established as a division within the department by an Act of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023 and to review the state food system security plan developed under Section 23.003 of the bill.
The bill would require TDA to create a state food system security plan. The bill would create the food system security planning fund as a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund. The account would consist of legislative appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, and interest earnings. The account could only be used to administer the council.
The bill would create the food system security and resiliency projects fund as a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund. The account would consist of legislative appropriations, gifts, grants, donations, and interest earnings. The account could only be used to award grants or administer the grant program. TDA's office would be required to award grants to recipients who meet eligibility requirements to increase food system security or resiliency in Texas.
TDA would be required to adopt rules necessary to implement the provisions of the bill.
Based on information provided by the Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA), with respect to both of the new dedicated accounts in General Revenue created by the legislation, the fiscal implications of the bill cannot be determined because the amounts and timing of any appropriations, grant distributions, depository interest, and gifts, grants, or donations for the new funds are unknown at this time.
Based on information provided by TDA, this analysis assumes that additional staff would be needed if funds were made available for the two new funds. It is assumed that TDA would need 2.0 FTEs to administer grant awards for the Texas food system security and resiliency grant program and coordinating the food system security and resiliency council and plan. Costs for these positions would include operating equipment and expenses, professional services expenses and one-time rule making costs to implement the provisions of the bill. Personnel costs (Salary, benefits, and operating) for the FTEs are estimated to be $201,077 in FY 2024 and $188,533 in subsequent FYs 2025-2028. In addition, professional service costs would total $100,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $50,000 in subsequent fiscal years 2025-28 for TDA to work with a university or vendor to create and update the state food security plan as required by this legislation. This analysis assumes that the cost of making rules required by the bill could be accomplished using existing resources.
This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either with or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.