78R8996 JMM-D

By:  Wentworth                                                    S.B. No. 1700



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the administration of the weather modification and 
control grant program.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 20.001, Agriculture Code, as added by 
Chapter 376, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 20.001.  FINDINGS.  The legislature finds that weather 
modification and control activities may have a significant impact 
on Texas agriculture.  The legislature further finds that the Texas
Department of Licensing and Regulation [Agriculture] is the proper 
state agency to administer grants to political subdivisions for 
weather modification and control activities.
	SECTION 2.  Section 20.002, Agriculture Code, as added by 
Chapter 376, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, 
is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 20.002.  DEFINITIONS [DEFINITION].  In this chapter:
		(1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of 
Licensing and Regulation.
		(2)  "Weather[, "weather] modification and control" 
means changing or controlling, or attempting to change or control, 
by artificial methods the natural development of atmospheric cloud 
forms or precipitation forms that occur in the troposphere.
	SECTION 3.  (a) This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.                       
	(b)  The Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department 
of Licensing and Regulation shall adopt a memorandum of 
understanding not later than October 1, 2003, that provides for the 
transfer of the weather modification and control grant program 
under Chapter 20, Agriculture Code, as added by Chapter 376, Acts of 
the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, from the Department of 
Agriculture to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation.  
The memorandum of understanding shall prescribe the manner by which 
the transfer shall be accomplished and provide for the transfer to 
the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation of funds 
appropriated to the Department of Agriculture and other money 
received by the department under Chapter 20, Agriculture Code, for 
the administration of the grant program as well as the transfer of 
any files, records, equipment, property, and personnel necessary to 
accomplish the transfer.  The transfer required by this subsection 
must be completed not later than January 1, 2004.