BILL ANALYSIS



H.B. 1113
By: Johnson
03-14-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) is the lead agency in
this state for regulation of pesticides.  This responsibility
includes registering pesticides before they are distributed or
transported within the state.

PURPOSE

HB 1113 will eliminate the registration of products by the TDA
which are not considered by the United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to be pesticides.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly
grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer,
department, agency or institution.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 76.041, Agriculture Code, by adding
subsection (d) which exempts a pesticide from registration by the
TDA if it is not required to be registered with the EPA under
federal law.

SECTION 2. Emergency clause; effective date: from and after its
passage.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

HB 1113 was considered by the House Committee on Environmental
Regulation in a public hearing on March 14, 1995.  After the chair
laid out HB 1113 and recognized Rep. Jerry Johnson to explain the
bill, the following people testified in favor of the bill:
     Don Stapleton, representing Proctor and Gamble; and
     Kathryn Keller, representing Texas Farm Bureau.
The following person testified neutrally on the bill:
     Barry McBee, representing the Texas Department of Agriculture.
HB 1113 was reported favorably without amendment, with the
recommendation that it do pass and be printed, by a record vote of
six (6) ayes, no (0) nays, no (0) pnv, and three (3) absent.