SRC-SEW S.B. 701 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 701 77R2482 BDH-DBy: Ellis, Rodney Natural Resources 2/19/2001 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Under current law, the Texas Department of Agriculture is authorized to give a $2,500 grant for an agriculture demonstration project to one eligible elementary school per district per year, and only if the school district has an enrollment of at least 49,000 students, unless more than $25,000 is appropriated by the legislature. As proposed, S.B. 701 includes, besides demonstration agricultural projects, other projects to foster an understanding and awareness of agriculture, removes an amendment which provides that, if additional funds are appropriated, the district enrollment criteria drops from 49,000 to 45,000, and removes the limitation stating that only one school within an eligible district may be awarded a grant in a school year. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Department of Agriculture is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 46.001, Agriculture Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 46.001, Agriculture Code, as added by Chapter 975, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, to require the Department of Agriculture, consistent with this chapter, by rule to develop a program to award grants to public elementary schools located in large urban school districts for certain stated purposes. SECTION 2. Amends Section 46.002, Agriculture Code, as added by Chapter 975, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, to delete text concerning certain public elementary schools eligible to receive grants under this chapter if more than $25,000 is appropriated. SECTION 3. Amends Section 46.003, Agriculture Code, as added by Chapter 975, Acts of the 76th Legislature, Regular Session, 1999, to delete Subsection (b), regarding awarding a grant to more than one school within the same school district in a school year. SECTION 4. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.