By: West S.B. No. 827

(In the Senate - Filed February 22, 2007; March 7, 2007, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Affairs and Coastal Resources; April 23, 2007, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute from Committee on Natural Resources by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 23, 2007, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 827 By: Jackson

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the public schools eligible to receive certain grants from the Department of Agriculture.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 48.001, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 48.001. CREATION. Consistent with this chapter, the department by rule shall develop a program to award grants to public elementary and middle schools located in large urban school districts for the purpose of establishing:

(1) demonstration agricultural projects; or

(2) other projects designed to foster an understanding and awareness of agriculture.

SECTION 2. Section 48.002, Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

Sec. 48.002. ELIGIBILITY. Subject to available funds, a public elementary or middle school is eligible to receive a grant under this chapter if the school:

(1) is located in a school district with an enrollment of at least 49,000 students; and

(2) submits to the department, at the time and in the form required by the department, a proposal for a demonstration agricultural project that includes:

(A) a description of the proposed project;

(B) a schedule of projected costs for the project; and

(C) a statement of the educational benefits of the project, including how the project will improve understanding of agriculture.

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, 2007.

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