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.