By Wise                                                H.B. No. 672
         76R3028 BDH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to an interim study of farmland preservation.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by
 1-5     adding  Section 12.038 to read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 12.038.  INTERIM STUDY OF FARMLAND PRESERVATION.  (a)
 1-7     The department shall review and evaluate the status of farmland
 1-8     preservation in this state and report the department's findings to
 1-9     the legislature not later than January 1, 2001.  In the review and
1-10     evaluation the department shall examine:
1-11                 (1)  the extent to which farmland in this state has
1-12     been lost or is threatened by urban sprawl and development;
1-13                 (2)  the substance and effectiveness of current
1-14     farmland preservation efforts by the department or other state
1-15     agencies;
1-16                 (3)  improvements to current department efforts or
1-17     changes to state law that could effectively reduce the loss of
1-18     farmland; and
1-19                 (4)  the efforts and resources that would be necessary
1-20     to effectively improve farmland preservation.
1-21           (b)  The department shall appoint an advisory committee to
1-22     assist in the review and evaluation and to obtain information or
1-23     recommendations from interested persons.  The advisory committee
1-24     may include any person the department believes could contribute to
 2-1     the review and evaluation, including representatives of
 2-2     agricultural producers, agricultural organizations, consumers,
 2-3     conservation organizations, property developers, or universities.
 2-4           (c)  This section expires January 1, 2001.
 2-5           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-10     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-11     passage, and it is so enacted.