By Swinford                                              H.B. No. 2
         76R8638 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to agricultural policy, assistance, and opportunities.
 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.  FINDINGS.  The legislature finds that:
1-10                 (1)  agriculture is a vital component of a diversified
1-11     state economy;
1-12                 (2)  agricultural industries and businesses create
1-13     numerous job opportunities;
1-14                 (3)  agriculture is more directly and substantially
1-15     affected by adverse weather conditions and water availability than
1-16     other industries;
1-17                 (4)  agriculture renews the natural resources of this
1-18     state by the annual production of crops and livestock;
1-19                 (5)  the majority of raw agricultural products in this
1-20     state are exported for value-added processing;
1-21                 (6)  access to capital is essential for the success of
1-22     agriculture; and
1-23                 (7)  access to an efficient transportation system is
1-24     essential for the success of agriculture.
 2-1           Sec. 2.002.  POLICY.  (a)  The state shall encourage and
 2-2     support the promotion and purchase of Texas agricultural products
 2-3     throughout this state, the nation, and the world.
 2-4           (b)  The state must ensure that agricultural interests are
 2-5     appropriately represented in state water planning activities.
 2-6           (c)  The state shall support efforts to control and eradicate
 2-7     injurious pests and diseases that adversely affect crops and
 2-8     livestock.
 2-9           (d)  The state shall promote rural economic development
2-10     activities.
2-11           (e)  The state shall maintain a comprehensive surface
2-12     transportation system, including a farm-to-market system for
2-13     agricultural products.
2-14           (f)  The state shall treat forestry as an agricultural
2-15     enterprise.
2-16           (g)  The state shall promote efficient utilization of soil
2-17     and water resources.
2-18           (h)  The state shall promote agricultural research through
2-19     state universities, agricultural extension service and experiment
2-20     stations, and private research entities.
2-21           (i)  The state shall promote a rural fire service.
2-22           (j)  The state shall provide scientific, research-based
2-23     environmental regulation of agriculture that protects the health,
2-24     safety, and development interests of this state.
2-25           (k)  The state shall protect private property rights and the
2-26     right to farm.
2-27           (l)  The state shall provide planning and assistance to
 3-1     value-added agriculture initiatives.
 3-2           (m)  The state shall encourage and support food safety.
 3-3           (n)  The state shall adopt a tax policy that encourages
 3-4     agricultural businesses and development.
 3-5           (o)  The state shall ensure that the public school curriculum
 3-6     regarding agriculture is balanced and factual.
 3-7           (p)  The state shall provide loans and grants of money to
 3-8     foster the growth of agricultural enterprises and innovation
 3-9     consistent with Section 52-a, Article III, Texas Constitution.
3-10           SECTION 3.  (a)  The Department of Agriculture shall conduct
3-11     a study of the agriculture industry in this state, including
3-12     value-added processing, and prepare a strategic plan and
3-13     recommendations to promote the development of agriculture in this
3-14     state.  The study must include an inventory of agricultural
3-15     value-added processors in this state.  The cost of the study may
3-16     not exceed $50,000 and is payable from funds appropriated for the
3-17     purpose.
3-18           (b)  The Department of Agriculture shall submit a written
3-19     report of the study, strategic plan, and recommendations of the
3-20     study to the governor,  lieutenant governor, and speaker of the
3-21     house of representatives not later than January 1, 2001.
3-22           SECTION 4.  (a)  The Texas Department of Economic Development
3-23     shall conduct a study of the textile industry in this state and
3-24     prepare a strategic plan and recommendations to promote the
3-25     development of the textile industry in this state.  The cost of the
3-26     study may not exceed $30,000 and is payable from funds appropriated
3-27     for the purpose.
 4-1           (b)  The Texas Department of Economic Development shall
 4-2     submit a written report of the study, strategic plan, and
 4-3     recommendations of the study to the  governor, lieutenant governor,
 4-4     and speaker of the house of representatives not later than January
 4-5     1, 2001.
 4-6           SECTION 5.  For each of the 10 most recent state fiscal years
 4-7     preceding September 1, 2000, each public senior college or
 4-8     university, as defined by Section 61.003, Education Code, shall
 4-9     prepare a written report of the total amount of money spent by the
4-10     university for agricultural research in cooperation with private
4-11     entities.  Each state university shall submit the report to the
4-12     governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker of the house of
4-13     representatives not later than January 1, 2001.
4-14           SECTION 6.  The importance of this legislation and the
4-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-19     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-20     passage, and it is so enacted.