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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the elimination of obsolete and redundant reporting |
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requirements for the Department of Agriculture. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsections (b), (c), and (d), Section 58.016, |
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Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(b) On or before August 1 of each year, the administrator |
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shall file with the board the proposed annual budgets for the young |
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farmer loan guarantee program under Subchapter E, the farm and |
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ranch finance program under Chapter 59, and the programs |
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administered by the board under this chapter for the succeeding |
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fiscal year. If there is no administrator, the commissioner shall |
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assume the duties of the administrator in connection with |
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preparation of the budget. The budget must set forth the general |
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categories of expected expenditures out of revenues and income of |
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the funds administered by the authority and the amount on account of |
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each. On or before September 1 of each year, the board shall |
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consider the proposed annual budget and may approve it or amend it. |
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[Copies of the annual budget certified by the chairman of the board
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shall be promptly filed with the governor and the legislature. The
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annual budget is not effective until it is filed.] If for any |
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reason the authority does not adopt an annual budget before |
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September 2, no expenditures may be made from the funds until the |
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board approves the annual budget. The authority may adopt an |
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amended annual budget for the current fiscal year[, but the amended
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annual budget may not supersede a prior budget until it is filed
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with the governor and the legislature]. |
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(c) The authority shall have an audit of its books and |
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accounts for each fiscal year by a certified public accountant. The |
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cost of the audit is an expense of the authority. [A copy of the
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audit shall be filed with the governor and the legislature on or
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before January 1 of each year.] |
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(d) On or before January 1 of each year, the authority shall |
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prepare a report of its activities for the preceding fiscal year. |
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The report must set forth a complete operating and financial |
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statement. [The authority shall file copies of the report with the
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governor and the legislature as soon as practicable.] |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (a), Section 487.051, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The office shall: |
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(1) assist rural communities in the key areas of |
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economic development, community development, rural health, and |
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rural housing; |
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(2) serve as a clearinghouse for information and |
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resources on all state and federal programs affecting rural |
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communities; |
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(3) in consultation with rural community leaders, |
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locally elected officials, state elected and appointed officials, |
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academic and industry experts, and the interagency work group |
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created under this chapter, identify and prioritize policy issues |
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and concerns affecting rural communities in the state; |
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(4) make recommendations to the legislature to address |
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the concerns affecting rural communities identified under |
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Subdivision (3); |
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(5) monitor developments that have a substantial |
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effect on rural Texas communities, especially actions of state |
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government[, and compile an annual report describing and evaluating
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the condition of rural communities]; |
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(6) administer the federal community development |
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block grant nonentitlement program; |
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(7) administer programs supporting rural health care |
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as provided by this chapter; |
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(8) perform research to determine the most beneficial |
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and cost-effective ways to improve the welfare of rural |
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communities; |
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(9) ensure that the office qualifies as the state's |
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office of rural health for the purpose of receiving grants from the |
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Office of Rural Health Policy of the United States Department of |
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Health and Human Services under 42 U.S.C. Section 254r; |
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(10) manage the state's Medicare rural hospital |
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flexibility program under 42 U.S.C. Section 1395i-4; |
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(11) seek state and federal money available for |
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economic development in rural areas for programs under this |
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chapter; |
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(12) in conjunction with other offices and divisions |
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of the Department of Agriculture, regularly cross-train office |
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employees with other employees of the Department of Agriculture |
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regarding the programs administered and services provided to rural |
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communities; and |
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(13) work with interested persons to assist volunteer |
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fire departments and emergency services districts in rural areas. |
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SECTION 3. Subsection (b), Section 487.804, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Not later than January 1 of each even-numbered year, the |
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commissioner shall submit to the legislature a report of the |
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findings of the advisory council and the activities of the Texas |
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Rural Foundation. |
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SECTION 4. The following provisions are repealed: |
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(1) Section 15.006, Agriculture Code; |
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(2) Subsections (e) and (f), Section 102.167, |
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Agriculture Code; |
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(3) Section 487.056, Government Code; and |
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(4) Section 487.653, Government Code. |
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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, 2013. |