S.B. 1700 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS S.B. 1700 By: Wentworth Agriculture & Livestock Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, the state weather modification program is split into two components, which places the technical and permitting function with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and the grant function with the Texas Department of Agriculture. S.B. 1700 moves the grant function of the weather modification program to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS S.B. 1700 amends the Agriculture Code which finds that the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR), rather than the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), is the proper state agency to administer grants to political subdivisions for weather modification and control activities. The bill sets forth provisions regarding the transfer of the weather modification and control grant program from TDA to TDLR. The bill requires TDA and TDLR to adopt a memorandum of understanding not later than the 30th day after the effective date of this Act that provides for the transfer, by that date, of any files, records, equipment, property, and personnel necessary to accomplish the transfer of the weather modification and control grant program from TDA to TDLR. EFFECTIVE DATE Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2003.