SRC-JBJ H.B. 597 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 597
By: Flores (Lucio)
Natural Resources
5/13/1999
Engrossed


DIGEST 

Currently, state agencies are required by law to give preference to Texas
agricultural products during their food purchasing process, if the Texas
product is equal in cost and quality to those produced elsewhere.  Due to a
lack of enforcement, vagueness of current law, and variances in
agricultural products' packaging specifications, most school districts in
Texas buy only a small percentage of Texas-grown or processed agricultural
products.  An increase in purchase by Texas bidders would permit more money
to stay within the state's economy.  H.B. 597 would require school
districts to give preference to products produced in Texas.   

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 597 requires school districts to prefer Texas products to
other products, if the Texas product is equal in cost and quality. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 44B, Education Code, by adding Section 44.042,
as follows: 

Sec. 44.042.  PREFERENCE TO TEXAS AND UNITED STATES PRODUCTS.  Requires a
school district that purchase goods to give preference to certain goods if
the cost is equal and the quality is comparable, including this state's
agricultural products; goods produced, processed, or grown in the United
States; and state vegetation in purchases of vegetation for landscaping
purposes.  Authorizes a school district to receive assistance from and use
the resources of the Texas Department of Agriculture.  Prohibits a school
district from adopting product purchasing specifications that unnecessarily
exclude Texas-grown agricultural products.  Defines "agricultural products"
and "processed."  

SECTION 2.  Requires the Texas Education Agency to conduct an analysis of
purchases by school districts to determine the effectiveness of Section
44.042, Education Code, and to report the results to the governor,
lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of representatives by January
1, 2001. 

SECTION 3.Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.