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.