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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the allocation of amounts deposited into the oyster |
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sales account and the abolishment of the oyster advisory committee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 436.103(e) and (f), Health and Safety |
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Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(e) Before any other disposition of the fees and penalties |
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collected under this section is made, two percent of the amount of |
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the fees and penalties shall be deposited in the state treasury for |
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appropriation for the use of the comptroller in the administration |
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and enforcement of this section. The remainder of the fees and |
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penalties collected under this section shall be deposited to the |
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credit of the oyster sales account in the general revenue fund to be |
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allocated each year for oyster-related activities, including: |
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(1) collecting bay water and shellfish meat samples; |
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(2) contracting for sample analysis for |
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classification and opening or closing of oyster harvesting areas; |
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(3) marking the boundaries of areas that are |
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designated open or closed under this subchapter; |
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(4) studying oyster diseases and other concerns |
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affecting the availability of oysters for harvest; |
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(5) studying and analyzing organisms that may be |
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associated with human illness and that can be transmitted through |
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the consumption of oysters; |
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(6) contributing to the support of the oyster shell |
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recovery and replacement program created under Section 76.020, |
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Parks and Wildlife Code [promotion and advertising of the Texas
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oyster industry by the Texas Department of Agriculture, including
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information, education, and training to consumers on safe and
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proper handling of oysters]; and |
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(7) other oyster-related activities authorized or |
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required by this chapter. |
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(f) After deducting the amount deposited into the state |
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treasury for the comptroller's use under Subsection (e), the |
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comptroller at the beginning of each state fiscal year shall |
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allocate $100,000 of the unencumbered balance deposited to the |
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credit of the oyster sales account in the general revenue fund to |
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Texas A&M University at Galveston for use in performing the |
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activities described by Subsection (e)(5). The remainder of the |
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money [Money] in the oyster sales account may [shall first] be |
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allocated only for the purposes described by Subsection (e) |
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[allocated for funding the public health activities of bay water
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and shellfish meat sample collection and analysis and wholesale,
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retail, and consumer education before money is allocated for
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research or promotion]. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 47, Agriculture Code, is |
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repealed, and the oyster advisory committee established under |
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Section 47.002, Agriculture Code, is abolished on the effective |
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date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |
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