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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to agricultural projects in certain schools, including the |
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eligibility of nonprofit organizations that partner with schools to |
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receive grants. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 48.001, Agriculture Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.001. CREATION. (a) Consistent with this chapter, |
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the department by rule shall develop a program to award grants to |
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public elementary and middle schools located in large urban school |
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districts for the purpose of establishing: |
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(1) demonstration agricultural projects; or |
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(2) other projects designed to foster an understanding |
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and awareness of agriculture. |
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(b) The department may award a grant under this chapter to a |
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nonprofit organization that partners with a school described by |
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Subsection (a) to establish a project described by Subsection (a) |
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at the school. |
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SECTION 2. Section 48.002, Agriculture Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.002. ELIGIBILITY. Subject to available funds, a |
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public elementary or middle school, or a nonprofit organization |
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that partners with the school, is eligible to receive a grant under |
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this chapter if the school: |
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(1) is located in a school district with an enrollment |
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of at least 49,000 students; and |
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(2) submits to the department, at the time and in the |
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form required by the department, a proposal for a demonstration |
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agricultural project that includes: |
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(A) a description of the proposed project; |
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(B) a schedule of projected costs for the |
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project; [and] |
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(C) a statement of the educational benefits of |
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the project, including how the project will improve understanding |
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of agriculture; and |
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(D) if a nonprofit organization is applying for |
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the grant, a statement from the school that the nonprofit |
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organization is partnering with the school. |
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SECTION 3. Section 48.004, Agriculture Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 48.004. REPORT. A school or nonprofit organization |
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that receives a grant under this chapter must report the results of |
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the project to the department in a manner determined by the |
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department. |
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SECTION 4. Section 48.003, Agriculture Code, is repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |