HBA-ALS H.B. 672 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 672
By: Wise
Agriculture & Livestock
3/24/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

H.B. 672 requires the Texas Department of Agriculture to review and
evaluate the status of farmland preservation in the state and report those
findings to the legislature by January 1, 2001.  This bill requires the
department to appoint an advisory committee to assist in this review and
evaluation, and obtain information or recommendations from interested
persons. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 12.038,
as follows: 

Sec.  12.038.  INTERIM STUDY OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION.  (a)  Requires the
Department of Agriculture (department) to review and evaluate the status of
farmland preservation in this state and to report its findings to the
legislature no later than January 1, 2001.  Requires the department to
examine in its review and evaluation the extent to which this state's
farmland  has been lost or is threatened by urban sprawl and development;
the substance and effectiveness of   farmland preservation efforts by the
department or other state agencies; improvements to current department
efforts or changes to state law that could reduce the loss of farmland; and
efforts and resources necessary to improve farmland preservation. 

(b)  Requires the department to appoint an advisory committee that assists
with the review and evaluation and obtains information or recommendations
from interested parties. Authorizes the advisory committee to include any
person, including representatives of agriculture producers, agricultural
organizations, consumers, conservation organizations, property developers,
or universities, whom the department believes could contribute to the
review and evaluation.   

(c)  Provides that this section expires on January 1, 2001.

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause. 
                       Effective date: upon passage.