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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of an advisory committee to study urban |
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farming. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: |
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(1) "Community garden" means land gardened by a |
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cooperative group of people residing in a neighborhood or community |
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for the purpose of providing fresh produce for the benefit of the |
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residents of the neighborhood or community. |
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(2) "Urban farm" means land used to cultivate, |
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process, and distribute food in or near an urban area. The term |
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includes a food plot in a community garden, on an inner-city lot, or |
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on the property of a school, a fish farm, a municipal composting |
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facility, an apiary, a garden that provides food for local |
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restaurants, or an orchard in the yard of a residence. |
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SECTION 2. URBAN FARM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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commissioner of agriculture shall establish an advisory committee |
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to study and provide recommendations to the legislature regarding |
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urban farms in this state. |
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(b) The advisory committee consists of eight members |
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appointed by the commissioner of agriculture. |
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(c) In appointing members of the advisory committee, the |
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commissioner of agriculture shall appoint as a member at least one |
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person with expertise in property taxation and ensure that the |
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members represent the interests of: |
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(1) urban farmers and operators of community gardens; |
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(2) municipalities; |
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(3) counties; and |
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(4) electric and water utilities. |
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(d) An advisory committee member is not entitled to |
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reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. |
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(e) The advisory committee shall meet not later than the |
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30th day after the date the initial appointments are made and shall |
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select a presiding officer. The committee shall meet regularly as |
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necessary at the call of the presiding officer. |
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(f) The advisory committee shall: |
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(1) investigate the status of urban farms in this |
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state; |
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(2) recommend: |
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(A) ways the state can assist individuals in |
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starting and operating urban farms; and |
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(B) ways to reduce the cost of operating an urban |
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farm in this state, including, if appropriate, the provision of a |
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property tax credit or exemption for urban farmers; and |
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(3) perform other advisory duties as requested by the |
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commissioner of agriculture regarding urban farms in this state. |
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(g) Not later than September 1, 2012, the advisory committee |
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shall submit to the legislature a report outlining: |
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(1) the results of the investigation required by |
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Subsection (f)(1) of this section; and |
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(2) the recommendations required by Subsection (f)(2) |
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of this section. |
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SECTION 3. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAW. Chapter 2110, |
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Government Code, does not apply to the advisory committee |
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established under this Act. |
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SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee established |
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under this Act is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2013. |
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SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect |
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immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members |
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elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas |
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Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for |
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immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |