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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the official cotton growers boll weevil eradication |
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foundation. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 74.202(b), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) An eradication zone is eligible for inclusion in a |
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maintenance area if: |
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(1) the commissioner determines that the boll weevil |
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has been functionally eradicated in that zone; |
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(2) the zone has satisfied any debt owed to the |
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foundation; |
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(3) the cotton grower steering committee has been |
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consulted regarding [requests] the inclusion of the zone in a |
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maintenance area; and |
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(4) the foundation requests the inclusion of the zone |
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in a maintenance area. |
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SECTION 2. Section 74.203(b), Agriculture Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(b) The maintenance fee must be collected on a per-acre or |
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per-bale basis at a rate to be set by the commissioner after |
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receiving a recommendation from the board. The board shall consult |
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with cotton grower steering committees [and the technical advisory
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committee] in formulating a recommendation to the commissioner |
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under this subsection. The commissioner may accept, reject, or |
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modify a board recommendation. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 74, Agriculture Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 74.2035 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 74.2035. TRANSFER OF FUNDS BETWEEN ERADICATION ZONES |
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AND MAINTENANCE AREAS. Notwithstanding any provision of this |
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subchapter or Subchapter D, with the approval of the board and the |
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commissioner, the foundation may transfer funds, including the |
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proceeds from the collection of assessments or maintenance fees, |
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between eradication zones and maintenance areas as needed to |
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fulfill the purposes of this subchapter and Subchapter D. The board |
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shall consult with affected cotton grower steering committees |
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before recommending that the commissioner approve the transfer of |
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funds under this section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 74.1135(b), Agriculture Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 5. Section 74.2035, Agriculture Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies to the transfer of funds by the Texas Boll Weevil |
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Eradication Foundation without regard to whether the funds consist |
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of assessments or maintenance fees collected before, on, or after |
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the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |