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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the Texas Organic Agricultural Industry |
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Advisory Board. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding |
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Chapter 50C to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50C. TEXAS ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD |
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Sec. 50C.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "board" means |
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the Texas Organic Agricultural Industry Advisory Board. |
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Sec. 50C.002. COMPOSITION. (a) The board is composed of the |
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following 11 members appointed by the commissioner: |
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(1) four members who produce organic agricultural |
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products; |
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(2) two members who are retail sellers of organic |
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agricultural products; |
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(3) one member who distributes organic agricultural |
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products; |
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(4) one member who processes organic agricultural |
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products; |
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(5) one member who represents a trade association that |
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represents the organic agricultural industry; |
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(6) one member who represents the public; and |
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(7) one representative from the department. |
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(b) The board shall elect a presiding officer from among its |
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members. |
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(c) Members of the board serve staggered terms of four |
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years, with either five or six members' terms, as applicable, |
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expiring February 1 of each odd-numbered year. Members may be |
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reappointed at the end of a term. |
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(d) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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size, composition, or duration of the board. |
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(e) Service on the board by a state officer or employee is an |
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additional duty of the member's office or employment. Members of |
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the board are not entitled to compensation or reimbursement of |
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expenses. |
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Sec. 50C.003. DUTIES. The board shall: |
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(1) assist the department in: |
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(A) assessing the state of the organic |
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agricultural products industry in this state; |
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(B) developing recommendations to the |
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commissioner and the legislature to promote and expand the organic |
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agricultural products industry in this state; |
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(C) identifying and obtaining grants and gifts to |
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promote and expand the organic agricultural products industry in |
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this state; and |
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(D) developing a statewide organic agricultural |
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products education and awareness campaign, utilizing the Texas |
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Cooperative Extension's educational programs and channels of |
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distribution when appropriate; and |
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(2) review and provide guidance on rules impacting the |
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organic agricultural products industry in this state. |
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Sec. 50C.004 MEETINGS. The board shall meet at least once |
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each year and may meet at other times considered necessary by the |
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commissioner. |
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Sec. 50C.005. STAFF. The board is administratively |
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attached to the department. The department shall provide the board |
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with the staff necessary to carry out its duties under this chapter. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |