By:  Oliveira                                                     H.B. No. 3204



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Texas Shrimp Marketing Assistance Program.                    
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 47.051, Agriculture Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	Sec. 47.051.  DEFINITIONS.  In this subchapter:                                
		(1)  "Advisory committee" means the shrimp advisory 
committee.              
		(2)  "Coastal waters" means all the salt water in the 
state, including portions of the Gulf of Mexico that is within the 
jurisdiction of the state.
		(3)  "Program" means the Texas shrimp marketing 
assistance program.         
		(4)  "Shrimp marketing account" means the account in 
the general revenue fund established under Section 77.002(b), Parks 
and Wildlife Code.
		(5)  "Texas-produced shrimp" means shrimp harvested 
from coastal waters and produced within the borders of the state.
		(6)  "State and local shrimp producers association" 
means any group that is comprised primarily of shrimp boat 
operators, but may include shrimp processors, brokers, or 
marketers, which was in existence on or before September 1, 2004 and 
that does not preclude members based on race, ethnicity, 
nationality, or religious affiliation.
	SECTION 2.  Section 47.055, Agriculture Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
	Sec. 47.055.  PROMOTION, MARKETING, AND EDUCATION.  (a) The 
program shall promote and advertise the Texas shrimp industry by:
		(1)  developing and maintaining a database of Texas 
shrimp wholesalers that sell Texas produced shrimp;
		(2)  operating a toll-free telephone number to:                               
			(A)  receive inquiries from persons who wish to 
purchase a particular type of Texas-produced shrimp; and
			(B)  make information about the Texas shrimp 
industry available to the public;
		(3)  developing a shrimp industry marketing plan to 
increase the consumption of Texas-produced shrimp;
		(4)  educating the public about Texas-produced shrimp 
by providing publicity about the information in the program's 
database to the public and making the information available to the 
public through the department's toll-free telephone number and 
electronically through the Internet;
		(5)  promoting the Texas shrimp industry; and                                 
		(6)  promoting and marketing, and educating consumers 
about, Texas-produced shrimp using any other method the 
commissioner determines appropriate.
	(b)  The department may contract with a state or local shrimp 
producers association to conduct the activities authorized by this 
section.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.