By:  Duncan                                           S.B. No. 1814

         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

                                       AN ACT

 1-1     relating to modifications of the Official Cotton Growers Boll

 1-2     Weevil Eradication Foundation.

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

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 74.102, Agriculture Code is amended by

 1-5     amending subsection (9) to read as follows:

 1-6                 (9)  "High Plains Boll Weevil Suppression Program Area"

 1-7     includes Andrews, Armstrong, Bailey, Borden, Briscoe, Castro,

 1-8     Cochran, Crosby, Dawson, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Ector, Floyd, Gaines,

 1-9     Garza, Hale, Hockley, Howard, Kent, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin,

1-10     Midland, Motley, Parmer, Randall, Swisher, Terry, and Yoakum

1-11     counties.  The High Plains Boll Weevil Suppression Program Area may

1-12     also include other counties or parts of counties if areas are added

1-13     to the High Plains Boll Weevil Suppression Program Area as provided

1-14     under this subchapter.

1-15           SECTION 2.  Section 74.113, Agriculture Code, is amended by

1-16     amending subsections (a) and (b) to read as follows:

1-17           (a)  The foundation shall determine the assessment needed in

1-18     each eradication zone to accomplish the following goal:  [to

1-19     finance programs of marketing, promotion, research, and education

1-20     calculated to increase the production and use of cotton.] to ensure

1-21     the stability of the cotton industry by eradicating the public

 2-1     nuisance caused by the boll weevil.

 2-2           (b)  The foundation shall propose in a referendum the:

 2-3                 (1)  maximum assessment to be paid by cotton growers

 2-4     having production in the eradication zone; and

 2-5           (a)  the assessment may be based on acres in production,

 2-6     acres available for production, projected cotton production, actual

 2-7     cotton production, or an combination of the above, as determined by

 2-8     referenda.

 2-9                 (2)  times for which the assessment will be made.

2-10           (a)  the assessment may be collected in one, two, three, or

2-11     four installments yearly, as determined by referenda.

2-12           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-13     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-14     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-15     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-16     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-17     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-18     passage, and it is so enacted.