82R24537 JXC-D
 
  By: Miles H.B. No. 2997
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation and funding of the urban farming pilot
  program and the creation of the Select Committee on Urban Farming.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 50E to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 50E. URBAN FARMING PILOT PROGRAM AND SELECT COMMITTEE
  SUBCHAPTER A. URBAN FARMING PILOT PROGRAM
         Sec. 50E.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program" means
  the urban farming pilot program established under this chapter.
         Sec. 50E.002.  ESTABLISHMENT OF URBAN FARMING PILOT PROGRAM.
  (a) The department by rule shall develop and implement an urban
  farming pilot program through which the department will award
  grants if funding for grants is available to urban farmers in this
  state to establish new urban farms and expand existing urban farms.
         (b)  The department by rule shall define "urban farm" and
  "urban farmer" for purposes of this chapter.
         (c)  The department may operate the program in an area
  designated as an enterprise zone under Chapter 2303, Government
  Code, in a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more.
         Sec. 50E.003.  USE OF AWARDED GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient
  may use grant money awarded under the program only to cover costs
  that are approved by the department.
         Sec. 50E.004.  GRANT RECIPIENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A
  grant recipient shall report information related to the program to
  the department in the form and manner and at regular intervals as
  prescribed by the department.
         Sec. 50E.005.  EVALUATION BY DEPARTMENT. The department
  shall monitor and periodically evaluate:
               (1)  the performance of each grant recipient under the
  program;
               (2)  how each grant recipient uses the grant money
  awarded under the program; and
               (3)  the effect of the program on the grant recipient
  and on the residents of the municipality in which the grant
  recipient uses grant money.
         Sec. 50E.006.  FUNDING. (a)  The department may seek,
  accept, and spend any funds received through grants or donations
  from public or private sources for the purposes of the program.
         (b)  The department is not required to implement the program
  unless the department has sufficient funding from a source other
  than an appropriation of general revenue.
         (c)  State money may not be used for purposes of the program.
  [Sections 50E.007-50E.010 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER B. SELECT COMMITTEE ON URBAN FARMING
         Sec. 50E.011.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "committee"
  means the Select Committee on Urban Farming.
         Sec. 50E.012.  COMPOSITION. (a) The Select Committee on
  Urban Farming is composed of:
               (1)  three members appointed by the president of
  Prairie View A&M University;
               (2)  three members appointed by the board of regents of
  The Texas A&M University System; and
               (3)  three members appointed by the director of the
  Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
         (b)  The committee shall elect a presiding officer from among
  its members.
         Sec. 50E.013.  COMPENSATION. A person is not entitled to
  compensation or reimbursement for serving as a committee member.
         Sec. 50E.014.  COMMITTEE DUTIES. (a) The committee shall:
               (1)  meet at the call of the presiding officer; and
               (2)  conduct an interim study and make recommendations
  to the legislature regarding:
                     (A)  the performance and operation of the program;
                     (B)  the continuation, elimination, or expansion
  of the program;
                     (C)  urban farming trends, including farming in
  sustainable living communities, cooperative crop production, and
  vertical integration farming;
                     (D)  capacity for urban farming in this state; and
                     (E)  potential effects of urban farming on the
  population of this state and on enterprise zones.
         (b)  The committee may request the assistance of state
  agencies, departments, or offices to carry out its duties.
         Sec. 50E.015.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2012, the
  committee shall submit a report based on its findings to:
               (1)  the governor;
               (2)  the lieutenant governor; and
               (3)  the speaker of the house of representatives.
  [Sections 50E.016-50E.020 reserved for expansion]
  SUBCHAPTER C.  EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER
         Sec. 50E.021.  EXPIRATION.  This chapter expires and the
  committee is abolished September 1, 2013.
         SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the
  Department of Agriculture shall implement the urban farming pilot
  program established under Chapter 50E, Agriculture Code, as added
  by this Act.
         (b)  Not later than October 1, 2011, the appointing entities
  listed in Section 50E.012, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act,
  shall make the appointments required by that section.
         (c)  Not later than October 15, 2011, the commissioner of
  agriculture shall call the first meeting of the Select Committee on
  Urban Farming to permit the committee to elect a presiding officer
  as required by Section 50E.012(b), Agriculture Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.