1-1     By:  Staples                                           S.B. No. 746
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed February 16, 2001; February 19, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Natural Resources;
 1-4     March 8, 2001, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 5,
 1-5     Nays 0; March 8, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-6                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-7                                   AN ACT
 1-8     relating to an economic development program administered by the
 1-9     Texas Department of Agriculture.
1-10           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-11           SECTION 1.  Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by
1-12     adding Section 12.027 to read as follows:
1-13           Sec. 12.027.  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.  (a)  The
1-14     department shall maintain an economic development program for rural
1-15     areas in this state.
1-16           (b)  In administering the program, the department shall:
1-17                 (1)  promote economic growth in rural areas;
1-18                 (2)  identify potential opportunities for business in
1-19     rural areas and assist rural communities in maximizing those
1-20     opportunities;
1-21                 (3)  work with rural communities to identify economic
1-22     development needs and direct those communities to persons who can
1-23     address and assist in meeting those needs;
1-24                 (4)  encourage communication between organizations,
1-25     industries, and regions to improve economic and community
1-26     development services to rural areas;
1-27                 (5)  coordinate meetings with public and private
1-28     entities to distribute information beneficial to rural areas;
1-29                 (6)  enter into a memorandum of agreement to work
1-30     cooperatively with the Texas Department of Economic Development,
1-31     the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and other entities the
1-32     department deems appropriate to further program objectives; and
1-33                 (7)  perform any other functions necessary to carry out
1-34     the program.
1-35           (c)  The department may employ personnel to carry out the
1-36     program.
1-37           SECTION 2.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-38           (b)  The Department of Agriculture shall adopt rules for the
1-39     administration of Section 12.027, Agriculture Code, as added by
1-40     this Act, before December 1, 2001.
1-41           (c)  The Department of Agriculture shall enter into the
1-42     memorandum of agreement required by Subdivision (6), Subsection
1-43     (b), Section 12.027, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act, before
1-44     December 1, 2001.
1-45                                  * * * * *