|
House Bill 2089 |
House Author: Burrows |
|
Effective: 9-1-21 |
Senate Sponsor: Perry et al. |
House Bill 2089 amends the Agriculture Code to require the Department of Agriculture (TDA) to enter into a cooperative agreement with a public institution of higher education that agrees to conduct plant pest and disease detection and surveillance. The bill establishes requirements for the agreement, including an application procedure, considerations for the TDA in determining whether to enter into an agreement with a given institution, and requirements for an institution's use of associated state funds. The bill also requires the TDA to establish a threat identification and mitigation program to determine and address plant pests and diseases that are threats to the domestic production of crops, including specialty crops.