By:  Sibley                                            S.B. No. 942
       73R5356 MJW-F
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the enforcement of seed inspection and labeling
    1-3  requirements.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Section 61.002(b), Agriculture Code, is amended
    1-6  to read as follows:
    1-7        (b)  The department may adopt rules as necessary for the
    1-8  efficient enforcement of this chapter.  Before adopting rules under
    1-9  this chapter, the department shall<:>
   1-10              <(1)  publish a description of the proposed action or
   1-11  the text of the proposed rules or amendments in three newspapers of
   1-12  general circulation throughout the state for three consecutive
   1-13  weeks; and>
   1-14              <(2)>  conduct a public hearing on the proposed rule or
   1-15  amendment.
   1-16        SECTION 2.  Section 61.011(d), Agriculture Code, is amended
   1-17  to read as follows:
   1-18        (d)  Quarterly reports filed under Subsection (c)(2) of this
   1-19  section are due within 30 days after the last day of November,
   1-20  February, May, and August.  Unless filed in accordance with prior
   1-21  written approval of the department for late filing, a person who
   1-22  does not file the report within the allotted time shall pay to the
   1-23  department a penalty not to exceed $25 <of $10> or <an amount equal
   1-24  to> 10 percent of the amount of the fee due, whichever is greater.
    2-1        SECTION 3.  Section 61.002(d), Agriculture Code, is repealed.
    2-2        SECTION 4.  The change in law made by Section 2 of this Act
    2-3  applies only to a report under Section 61.011(d), Agriculture Code,
    2-4  as amended by this Act, that is due on or after the effective date
    2-5  of this Act.
    2-6        SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-7  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-8  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-9  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   2-10  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
   2-11  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
   2-12  passage, and it is so enacted.