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.