By Swinford, McReynolds, Turner of Coleman, Cook, H.B. No. 453 77R3235 JMG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the creation of the Agriculture Policy Board. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding 1-5 Section 2.004 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 2.004. AGRICULTURE POLICY BOARD. (a) The Agriculture 1-7 Policy Board, through research and analysis, shall advocate and 1-8 recommend strategies for agriculture that enhance agriculture 1-9 production, income, and employment, that benefit consumers, and 1-10 that promote efficient use of natural resources. 1-11 (b) The board is composed of the following voting members: 1-12 (1) the commissioner of the Texas Department of 1-13 Agriculture; 1-14 (2) the chair of the House Agriculture and Livestock 1-15 Committee; 1-16 (3) the chair of the Senate Natural Resources 1-17 Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture; 1-18 (4) three members of the house of representatives to 1-19 be appointed by the speaker of the house, preferably with expertise 1-20 in agriculture or from predominately rural or agriculturally 1-21 oriented districts; and 1-22 (5) three members of the senate to be appointed by the 1-23 lieutenant governor, preferably with expertise in agriculture or 1-24 from predominately rural or agriculturally oriented districts. 2-1 (c) The members of the board shall elect from its membership 2-2 a chair. 2-3 (d) Employees of the House Agriculture and Livestock 2-4 Committee and the Senate Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee 2-5 on Agriculture shall provide staff services for the board. 2-6 (e) The board shall continue the development of agriculture 2-7 policy guidelines consistent with Section 2.003 and shall: 2-8 (1) review all legislation that will impact 2-9 agriculture in this state for compliance with the guidelines; 2-10 (2) review all agriculture budget issues for 2-11 compliance with the guidelines, and establish priorities for 2-12 agriculture-related research and agency budgets related to 2-13 agriculture; 2-14 (3) review all current statutes that affect 2-15 agriculture in this state for compliance with the guidelines; and 2-16 (4) review all agency rulemaking authority for 2-17 compliance with the guidelines. 2-18 (f) Service as a member of the board is an additional duty 2-19 of the member's public office. 2-20 (g) Legislative members of the board serve two-year terms 2-21 and membership on the board terminates if the member ceases 2-22 membership in the legislature for any reason. 2-23 (h) A vacancy in an appointive position on the board is 2-24 filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 2-25 (i) Members of the board serve without compensation or 2-26 reimbursement of expenses. Members shall be reimbursed in 2-27 accordance with their public office. 3-1 (j) The board may create a 15-member ad hoc advisory 3-2 committee to assist the board in carrying out the official duties 3-3 of the board. Members of the advisory committee serve without 3-4 compensation or reimbursement of expenses. 3-5 (k) The board shall adopt rules necessary for the 3-6 proceedings of the board. 3-7 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.