LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 76th Regular Session
  
                               May 13, 1999
  
  
          TO:  Honorable J.E. "Buster" Brown, Chair, Senate Committee on
               Natural Resources
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB 3277 by Cook (Relating to research in agriculture
               production and its effect on water use and availability
               and wildlife habitats.), As Engrossed
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would establish an Agriculture/Wildlife Research and Management
Advisory Committee at the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station
consisting of 13 members.  The Committee would advise the Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station in conducting agriculture/wildlife
research, encourage communication with other states, and establish a
framework for more efficient management of water as it relates to
wildlife habitat and agricultural production in the Gulf Coast Region.

The Texas Agricultural  Experiment Station would be required to
administer an agriculture/wildlife research program with competitive
grants and funding for research, maximize federal funds received for such
research, and develop a research plan.

The Texas Agricultural Extension Service would be required to provide
educational programs on agriculture, water use, and wildlife habitats and
conduct public awareness programs.

Members of the Agriculture/Wildlife Research and Management Advisory
Committee would incur minimal travel expenses, which are not expected to
be significant.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   556   Agricultural Experiment Station Texas
LBB Staff:         JK, DE, KC