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.