By Swinford, Hawley, Hilderbran, Turner of Coleman, H.B. No. 2
76R12265 BDH-F
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to agriculture and state agricultural policy.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Agriculture and
1-5 Rural Development Act of 1999.
1-6 SECTION 2. Title 1, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
1-7 Chapter 2 to read as follows:
1-8 CHAPTER 2. STATE AGRICULTURAL POLICY
1-9 Sec. 2.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter, "agriculture"
1-10 means:
1-11 (1) the cultivation of the soil to produce crops;
1-12 (2) horticulture, floriculture, or viticulture;
1-13 (3) forestry; or
1-14 (4) the raising or keeping of livestock or poultry.
1-15 Sec. 2.002. FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:
1-16 (1) agriculture has been a critical element in the
1-17 economic, cultural, and historical development of this state;
1-18 (2) the impact of agriculture in this state is
1-19 declining, due to urbanization, economic changes, and changes in
1-20 agriculture;
1-21 (3) the effects of those changes are not limited to
1-22 rural areas and the agricultural community but affect citizens
1-23 throughout the state, including those in urban areas;
1-24 (4) agriculture is a vital component of a diversified
1-25 state economy and creates numerous businesses and job
2-1 opportunities;
2-2 (5) agriculture is directly and substantially affected
2-3 by factors beyond the control of the industry, including adverse
2-4 weather conditions and changes in world commodity markets;
2-5 (6) agriculture renews the natural resources of this
2-6 state through the annual production of crops and livestock; and
2-7 (7) to ensure that agriculture remains a vital force
2-8 in this state, the state must assess the condition of agriculture
2-9 and the role of state government and develop an agricultural policy
2-10 to guide governmental actions.
2-11 Sec. 2.003. POLICY. The agricultural policy of this state
2-12 must consider and address:
2-13 (1) water availability issues, including planning for
2-14 water supplies and drought preparedness and response;
2-15 (2) transportation issues, including the
2-16 farm-to-market road system and intermodal transportation;
2-17 (3) state regulatory issues;
2-18 (4) state tax policy;
2-19 (5) the availability of capital, including state loans
2-20 or grants authorized by Section 52-a, Article III, Texas
2-21 Constitution;
2-22 (6) the promotion of Texas agricultural products,
2-23 including development of domestic and foreign markets;
2-24 (7) eradication or control of injurious pests and
2-25 diseases that affect crops and livestock;
2-26 (8) research and education efforts, including
2-27 financial risk management and consumer education and education in
3-1 the public schools;
3-2 (9) promotion of efficient utilization of soil and
3-3 water resources;
3-4 (10) rural economic and infrastructure development;
3-5 (11) protection of property rights and the right to
3-6 farm;
3-7 (12) preservation of farmland;
3-8 (13) food safety;
3-9 (14) efforts to participate in the formulation of
3-10 federal programs and policies;
3-11 (15) promotion of rural fire service; and
3-12 (16) promotion of value-added agricultural
3-13 enterprises.
3-14 SECTION 3. The legislature shall conduct a comprehensive
3-15 study of the condition of agriculture, the state's current programs
3-16 in support of agriculture, and the role of the state in preserving
3-17 the agriculture industry. The study shall be conducted in a manner
3-18 determined by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
3-19 of representatives, with the assistance of the Texas Department of
3-20 Agriculture, the comptroller, the Texas Department of Economic
3-21 Development, and other agencies and institutions of higher
3-22 education as determined by the lieutenant governor and the speaker
3-23 of the house of representatives.
3-24 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-1 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-2 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-3 passage, and it is so enacted.