By: West S.B. No. 1501
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the eligibility of nonprofit organizations that partner
  with certain schools to receive grants for agricultural projects.
         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.  (a)  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.
         (b)  The department may award a grant under Subsection (a) to
  a nonprofit organization that partners with a school described by
  Subsection (a) to establish a project described by Subsection (a)
  at the school.
         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, or a nonprofit organization
  that partners with the 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; and
                     (D)  if a nonprofit organization is applying for
  the grant, a statement from the school that the nonprofit
  organization is partnering with the school.
         SECTION 3.  Section 48.004, Agriculture Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         Sec. 48.004.  REPORT. A school or nonprofit organization
  that receives a grant under this chapter must report the results of
  the project to the department in a manner determined by the
  department.
         SECTION 4.  Section 48.003, Agriculture Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 5.  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, 2009.