76R12727 BDH-D                           
         By Wise                                                H.B. No. 672
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 672:
         By Hardcastle                                      C.S.H.B. No. 672
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to an interim study of the effects of urban encroachment
 1-3     on agricultural land.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by
 1-6     adding Section 12.038 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 12.038.  INTERIM STUDY OF EFFECTS OF URBAN ENCROACHMENT
 1-8     ON AGRICULTURAL LAND.  (a)  The department shall review and
 1-9     evaluate urban encroachment on agricultural land in this state and
1-10     report the department's findings to the legislature not later than
1-11     January 1, 2001.  In the review and evaluation the department shall
1-12     examine:
1-13                 (1)  the extent to which agricultural land in this
1-14     state has been lost or is threatened by urban sprawl and
1-15     development;
1-16                 (2)  the substance and effectiveness of current farming
1-17     incentive efforts by the department or other state agencies;
1-18                 (3)  improvements to current department efforts or
1-19     changes to state law that could effectively reduce the loss of
1-20     agricultural land; and
1-21                 (4)  the efforts and resources that would be necessary
1-22     to effectively maintain farming in this state.
1-23           (b)  The department shall appoint an advisory committee to
1-24     assist in the review and evaluation and to obtain information or
 2-1     recommendations from interested persons.  The advisory committee
 2-2     may include any person the department believes could contribute to
 2-3     the review and evaluation, including representatives of
 2-4     agricultural producers, agricultural organizations, consumers,
 2-5     conservation organizations, property developers, or universities.
 2-6           (c)  This section expires January 1, 2001.
 2-7           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-8     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-9     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-10     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-11     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-12     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-13     passage, and it is so enacted.