BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 827

                                                                                                                                 By: West, Royce

                                                                                                                               Natural Resources

                                                                                                                                            7/10/2007

                                                                                                                                              Enrolled

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law allows elementary schools in large urban districts to apply for grants for the purpose of establishing demonstration agriculture projects or other projects designed to foster an understanding and awareness of agriculture. However, middle schools are not included in current statute.

 

S.B. 827 allows middle schools in large urban districts to apply for an agriculture project grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

Rulemaking authority previously granted to the Texas Department of Agriculture is modified in SECTION 1 (Section 48.001, Agriculture Code) of this bill.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 48.001, Agriculture Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 48.001.  CREATION.  Requires the Texas Department of Agriculture by rule to develop a program to award grants to public elementary and middle schools, rather than solely to public elementary schools, located in large urban school districts for the purpose of establishing certain agriculture projects.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 48.002, Agriculture Code, as follows:

 

Sec. 48.002.  ELIGIBILITY.  Makes a conforming change.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.