1-1     By:  Swinford, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Ogden)           H.B. No. 2
 1-2           (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 1999;
 1-3     May 3, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on Natural
 1-4     Resources; May 10, 1999, reported favorably by the following vote:
 1-5     Yeas 5, Nays 0; May 10, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to agriculture and state agricultural policy.
 1-9           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-10           SECTION 1.  This Act shall be known as the Agriculture and
1-11     Rural Development Act of 1999.
1-12           SECTION 2.  Title 1, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
1-13     Chapter 2 to read as follows:
1-14                    CHAPTER 2.  STATE AGRICULTURAL POLICY
1-15           Sec. 2.001.  DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter, "agriculture"
1-16     means:
1-17                 (1)  the cultivation of the soil to produce crops;
1-18                 (2)  horticulture, floriculture, or viticulture;
1-19                 (3)  forestry; or
1-20                 (4)  the raising or keeping of livestock or poultry.
1-21           Sec. 2.002.  FINDINGS.  The legislature finds that:
1-22                 (1)  agriculture has been a critical element in the
1-23     economic, cultural, and historical development of this state;
1-24                 (2)  the impact of agriculture in this state is
1-25     declining, due to urbanization, economic changes, and changes in
1-26     agriculture;
1-27                 (3)  the effects of those changes are not limited to
1-28     rural areas and the agricultural community but affect citizens
1-29     throughout the state, including those in urban areas;
1-30                 (4)  agriculture is a vital component of a diversified
1-31     state economy and creates numerous businesses and job
1-32     opportunities;
1-33                 (5)  agriculture is directly and substantially affected
1-34     by factors beyond the control of the industry, including adverse
1-35     weather conditions and changes in world commodity markets;
1-36                 (6)  agriculture renews the natural resources of this
1-37     state through the annual production of crops and livestock; and
1-38                 (7)  to ensure that agriculture remains a vital force
1-39     in this state, the state must assess the condition of agriculture
1-40     and the role of state government and develop an agricultural policy
1-41     to guide governmental actions.
1-42           Sec. 2.003.  POLICY.  The agricultural policy of this state
1-43     must consider and address:
1-44                 (1)  water availability issues, including planning for
1-45     water supplies and drought preparedness and response;
1-46                 (2)  transportation issues, including the
1-47     farm-to-market road system and intermodal transportation;
1-48                 (3)  state regulatory issues;
1-49                 (4)  state tax policy;
1-50                 (5)  the availability of capital, including state loans
1-51     or grants authorized by Section 52-a, Article III, Texas
1-52     Constitution;
1-53                 (6)  the promotion of Texas agricultural products,
1-54     including development of domestic  and foreign markets;
1-55                 (7)  eradication or control of injurious pests and
1-56     diseases that affect crops and livestock;
1-57                 (8)  research and education efforts, including
1-58     financial risk management and consumer education and education in
1-59     the public schools;
1-60                 (9)  promotion of efficient utilization of soil and
1-61     water resources;
1-62                 (10)  rural economic and infrastructure development;
1-63                 (11)  protection of property rights and the right to
1-64     farm;
 2-1                 (12)  preservation of farmland;
 2-2                 (13)  food safety;
 2-3                 (14)  efforts to participate in the formulation of
 2-4     federal programs and policies;
 2-5                 (15)  promotion of rural fire service; and
 2-6                 (16)  promotion of value-added agricultural
 2-7     enterprises.
 2-8           SECTION 3.  The legislature shall conduct a comprehensive
 2-9     study of the condition of agriculture, the state's current programs
2-10     in support of agriculture, and the role of the state in preserving
2-11     the agriculture industry.  The study shall be conducted in a manner
2-12     determined by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house
2-13     of representatives, with the assistance of the Texas Department of
2-14     Agriculture, the comptroller, the Texas Department of Economic
2-15     Development, and other agencies and institutions of higher
2-16     education as determined by the lieutenant governor and the speaker
2-17     of the house of representatives.
2-18           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-19     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-20     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-21     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-22     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-23     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-24     passage, and it is so enacted.
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