SRC-MWN H.B. 453 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 453
By: Swinford (Haywood)
Natural Resources
3/20/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

During the interim of the76th Legislature, the Joint Agricultural Policy
Committee developed a agriculture policy for the state. HB 453 establishes
the Agricultural Policy Board to advocate and recommend strategies to
enhance agriculture. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Agriculture Policy Board
in SECTION 1 (Section 2.004, Agriculture Code) of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 2, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 2.004, as
follows: 

Sec. 2.004. AGRICULTURE POLICY BOARD. (a) Requires the Agriculture Policy
Board (board), through research and analysis, to advocate and recommend
certain strategies for agriculture that enhance agricultural production,
income, and employment, that benefit consumers, and that promote efficient
and sustainable use of natural resources. 

  (b) Provides that the board is composed certain voting members.

(c) Requires the members of the board to elect a chair from the board's
membership. 

  (d) Requires certain legislative committees to provide staff services for
the board. 

(e) Requires the board to continue the development of agriculture policy
guidelines consistent with Section 2.003 and to perform certain actions. 

(f) Provides that service as a member of the board is an additional duty of
the member's public office. 

(g) Provides that legislative members of the board serve certain terms and
membership on the board terminates if the member ceases to be a legislator. 

(h) Provides that a vacancy in an appointive position on the board is
filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 

(i) Provides that members of the board serve without compensation or
reimbursement of expenses. Requires members to be reimbursed in accordance
with their public office. 

(j) Requires the board to create an advisory committee to assist the board
in carrying out the official duties of the board. Provides that members of
the advisory committee serve without compensation or reimbursement of
expenses. 

   (k) Requires the board to adopt rules necessary for the proceedings of
the board. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.