By Romo                                               H.B. No. 2744
       74R7119 MWV-D
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the fee paid for inspection of compost.
    1-3        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-4        SECTION 1.  Section 63.071(h), Agriculture Code, is amended
    1-5  to read as follows:
    1-6        (h)  The <A person is not required to pay an> inspection fee
    1-7  on compost as defined by Section 361.421, Health and Safety Code,
    1-8  is 25 percent of an inspection fee imposed under this section for
    1-9  commercial fertilizer distributed in this state, if the compost is
   1-10  labeled, advertised, or otherwise identified or sold as a
   1-11  fertilizer or as having nutritive value.  A person is not required
   1-12  to pay an inspection fee on compost that is not labeled,
   1-13  advertised, or otherwise identified or sold as a fertilizer or as
   1-14  having nutritive value.
   1-15        SECTION 2.  Section 361.421(1), Health and Safety Code, is
   1-16  amended to read as follows:
   1-17              (1)  "Compost" is the disinfected and stabilized
   1-18  product of the decomposition process that may be <is> used or sold
   1-19  for use as a soil amendment, artificial top soil, growing medium
   1-20  amendment, fertilizer, or other similar uses.
   1-21        SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-22        SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-23  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-24  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-1  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-2  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.