SRC-PNG S.B. 1265 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1265
76R7969 BDH-FBy: Ellis
Agriculture
3/30/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, urban school children in Texas are suffering from a lack of
knowledge of agriculture, even though many schools have agriculture as part
of their curriculum.  Textbooks and lectures are marginally effective in
teaching children about agriculture.  Demonstrations and hands-on
participation are the most effective means of teaching children about
agriculture.  This bill would create a grant program at the Texas
Department of Agriculture to be used by elementary schools in large urban
public school districts for the purpose of establishing demonstration
agriculture projects. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1265 creates a grant program at the Texas Department of
Agriculture  to be used by elementary schools in large urban public school
districts for the purpose of establishing demonstration agriculture
projects. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is granted to the Department of Agriculture in SECTION
1 (Section 46.001, Agriculture Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Title 3, Agriculture Code, by adding Chapter 46, as
follows: 

CHAPTER 46.  AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS IN CERTAIN URBAN SCHOOLS

Sec.  46.001.  CREATION.  Requires the Department of Agriculture
(department), by rule, to develop a program to award grants to public
schools located in large urban school districts for the purpose of
establishing demonstration agricultural projects. 

Sec.  46.002.  ELIGIBILITY.  Sets forth the requirements for a public
school to be eligible to receive a grant under this chapter, subject to
available funds. 

Sec.  46.003.  LIMIT.  Prohibits a grant awarded to a school under this
chapter from exceeding $2,500. 

Sec.  46.004.  REPORT.  Requires a school that receives a grant under this
chapter to report the results of the project to the department in a manner
determined by the department. 

Sec.  46.005.  FUNDS.  Authorizes the department to solicit and accept
gifts, grants, and other donations from any source to carry out this
chapter. 

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