BILL ANALYSIS


                                                        H.B. 2341
                                             By: Ramsay (Sponsor)
                                                Natural Resources
                                                         05-03-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

In response to the fire ant infestation problem in Texas, the Texas
Legislature created the Fire Ant Advisory Board under the direction
of the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) in 1987.  The board
was not funded, which resulted in its limited success.  The TDA is
in the final stages of a memorandum of understanding to convey the
administration of the fire ant program to Texas Tech University.

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 2341 creates the Fire Ant Research and Management
Account Advisory Committee, to replace the Fire Ant Advisory Board,
as an advisory committee within the Texas Agricultural Experiment
Station.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is granted
to the Fire Ant Research and Management Account Advisory Committee
under SECTION 1 (Section 88.215(f), Education Code) of this bill.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 88C, Education Code, by adding Section
88.215, as follows:

     Sec. 88.215.  FIRE ANT RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT
     ADVISORY COMMITTEE; OTHER AGENCIES.  (a) Establishes the Fire
     Ant Research and Management Account Advisory Committee
     (committee) as an advisory committee within the Texas
     Agricultural Experiment Station (TAES).
     
     (b) Sets forth the membership of the committee.
       
       (c) Declares that committee members serve staggered two-year
       terms.  Authorizes a committee member to serve more than one
       term.
       
       (d) Requires the committee members to elect a member of the
       committee to serve as presiding officer for a two-year term.
       
       (e) Requires the committee to meet not less than two times
       each year.
       
       (f) Authorizes the committee to adopt rules for the
       committee's internal procedures.
       
       (g) Prohibits the administrative expenses of the advisory
       committee from exceeding 20 percent of the total amount of
       funds available for expenditure by the committee.
       
       (h) Declares that committee members are not entitled to
       compensation and are required, unless representing a
       university or state agency, to pay the member's own
       expenses.  Authorizes a committee member who represents a
       university or state agency to receive reimbursement for
       travel expenses from the university or agency the member
       represents.
       
       (i) Requires the committee to advise, assist, and direct
       TAES in conducting fire ant research; encourage
       communication with other states that are infested with fire
       ants; and establish a framework for more efficient
       management of fire ant infestation problems.
       
       (j) Requires TAES to administer the fire ant basic research
       program under Section 77.022, Agriculture Code; solicit,
       distribute, and create competitive grant and other funding
       programs for fire ant research; engage in activities
       necessary to maximize federal funding for research and
       management of fire ants; and plan a program of research
       regarding fire ants.
       
       (k) Requires the Texas Agricultural Extension Service to
       provide educational programs regarding fire ant infestation
       and treatment, and conduct public awareness programs
       regarding fire ant infestation and treatment through the use
       of the media, publications, demonstrations, and other means
       of public education.
       
       SECTION 2.   Amends Sections 77.022(a)-(c) and (e)-(f), Agriculture
Code, to require the committee, rather than the Fire Ant Advisory
Board, to oversee a program to finance broadly based ant research. 
Makes conforming changes.

SECTION 3. Repealer: Section 77.021, Agriculture Code (Fire Ant
Advisory Board).

SECTION 4. (a) Abolishes the Fire Ant Advisory Board on the
effective date of this Act.  Requires the committee, on that date,
to assume the powers, duties, obligations, property, unexpended and
unobligated funds, and other assets of the board.

     (b) Sets forth the term limits for the initial committee
     members.
     
     SECTION 5.     Requires TEAS, before July 1, 1996, to present to the
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
the chair of the committee responsible for agricultural matters in
each house of the legislature a report regarding certain issues of
fire ant research and management.

SECTION 6. Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.