By Wise                                         H.B. No. 2367

      75R7277 MWV-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the preservation of farmland.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Title 7, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding

 1-5     Chapter 204 to read as follows:

 1-6                    CHAPTER 204. PRESERVATION OF FARMLAND

 1-7           Sec. 204.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:

 1-8                 (1)  "Director" means the director of the division.

 1-9                 (2)  "Division" means the division of farmland

1-10     preservation of the department.

1-11           Sec. 204.002.  DIRECTOR.  The commissioner shall appoint the

1-12     director of the division.

1-13           Sec. 204.003.  PUBLIC EDUCATION RESPONSIBILITY.  The division

1-14     shall educate the public  regarding the importance of the

1-15     preservation of farmland in this state.

1-16           Sec. 204.004.  INVESTIGATIONS AND REPORTS.  (a)  The division

1-17     shall conduct studies and gather information regarding the

1-18     preservation of farmland in this state.

1-19           (b)  The director shall report annually to the commissioner

1-20     regarding efforts of the division and other persons to preserve

1-21     farmland in this state.

1-22           Sec. 204.005.  PRESERVATION.  To encourage the preservation

1-23     of farmland in  this state, the division shall cooperate with local

1-24     governments, universities, nonprofit organizations, and other

 2-1     groups with an interest in the preservation of farmland.

 2-2           Sec. 204.006.  PRESERVATION SOCIETIES.  The division shall

 2-3     encourage the development of farmland preservation societies.

 2-4           Sec. 204.007.  AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT GIFTS.  The department is

 2-5     authorized to accept gifts, grants, and donations in behalf of the

 2-6     division.

 2-7           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

 2-8           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-9     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-10     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-11     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-12     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.