SRC-MWN H.B. 1086 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1086 77R4006 BDH-DBy: Solis, Jim (Duncan) Natural Resources 4/9/2001 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas is abundant in natural resources and rich in agriculture, ranking second in the nation in farm production. Despite this, hunger and poverty remain a pervasive problem. Recent government estimates are that one in 10 children under the age of 12, or more than 350,000 kids, are hungry in Texas. As proposed, H.B. 1086 requires the Department of Agriculture to develop a grant surplus program for non-profit organizations to collect and distribute surplus agricultural products to food banks and other charitable organizations that serve needy or low-income individuals. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Agriculture in SECTION 1 (Section 20.001, Agriculture Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 2, Agriculture Code, by adding Chapter 20, to read as follows: CHAPTER 20. GRANT PROGRAM FOR DISTRIBUTION OF SURPLUS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS Sec. 20.001. CREATION. Requires the Department of Agriculture (department) to develop by rule a program to award grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of collecting and distributing surplus agricultural products to food banks and other charitable organizations that serve needy or low-income individuals. Sec. 20.002. ELIGIBILITY. Provides that a nonprofit organization, subject to available funds, is eligible to receive a grant under this chapter if the organization meets certain criteria. Sec. 20.003. REPORT. Requires a nonprofit organization that receives a grant under this chapter to report the results of the project to the department in the manner prescribed by the department. SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.