1-1 By: Swinford, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Haywood) H.B. No. 453 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House March 12, 2001; 1-3 March 14, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Natural Resources; April 17, 2001, reported favorably by the 1-5 following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; April 17, 2001, sent to printer.) 1-6 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-7 AN ACT 1-8 relating to the creation of the Agriculture Policy Board. 1-9 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-10 SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding 1-11 Section 2.004 to read as follows: 1-12 Sec. 2.004. AGRICULTURE POLICY BOARD. (a) The Agriculture 1-13 Policy Board, through research and analysis, shall advocate and 1-14 recommend strategies for agriculture that enhance agriculture 1-15 production, income, and employment, that benefit consumers, and 1-16 that promote efficient and sustainable use of natural resources. 1-17 (b) The board is composed of the following voting members: 1-18 (1) the commissioner of the Texas Department of 1-19 Agriculture; 1-20 (2) the chair of the House Agriculture and Livestock 1-21 Committee; 1-22 (3) the chair of the Senate Natural Resources 1-23 Committee Subcommittee on Agriculture; 1-24 (4) three members of the house of representatives to 1-25 be appointed by the speaker of the house, preferably with expertise 1-26 in agriculture or from predominately rural or agriculturally 1-27 oriented districts; and 1-28 (5) three members of the senate to be appointed by the 1-29 lieutenant governor, preferably with expertise in agriculture or 1-30 from predominately rural or agriculturally oriented districts. 1-31 (c) The members of the board shall elect from its membership 1-32 a chair. 1-33 (d) Employees of the House Agriculture and Livestock 1-34 Committee and the Senate Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee 1-35 on Agriculture shall provide staff services for the board. 1-36 (e) The board shall continue the development of agriculture 1-37 policy guidelines consistent with Section 2.003 and shall: 1-38 (1) review all legislation that will impact 1-39 agriculture in this state for compliance with the guidelines; 1-40 (2) review all agriculture budget issues for 1-41 compliance with the guidelines and establish priorities for 1-42 agriculture-related research and agency budgets related to 1-43 agriculture; 1-44 (3) review all current statutes that affect 1-45 agriculture in this state for compliance with the guidelines; and 1-46 (4) review all agency rulemaking authority for 1-47 compliance with the guidelines. 1-48 (f) Service as a member of the board is an additional duty 1-49 of the member's public office. 1-50 (g) Legislative members of the board serve two-year terms 1-51 and membership on the board terminates if the member ceases 1-52 membership in the legislature for any reason. 1-53 (h) A vacancy in an appointive position on the board is 1-54 filled in the same manner as the original appointment. 1-55 (i) Members of the board serve without compensation or 1-56 reimbursement of expenses. Members shall be reimbursed in 1-57 accordance with their public office. 1-58 (j) The board shall create a 15-member ad hoc advisory 1-59 committee to assist the board in carrying out the official duties 1-60 of the board. Members of the advisory committee serve without 1-61 compensation or reimbursement of expenses. 1-62 (k) The board shall adopt rules necessary for the 1-63 proceedings of the board. 1-64 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001. 2-1 * * * * *