BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 2495

By: Martinez, "Mando"

Agriculture & Livestock

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties note that the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation, Inc., was established several years ago at a time when citrus greening disease, caused by the Asian citrus psyllid, posed a major threat to the citrus industry in Texas and other states. The parties further note that, while that disease and the pest that spreads it remain concerns, there are other potential pests and diseases that also threaten this important industry. C.S.H.B. 2495 seeks to address this issue in order to combat such pests and diseases.

 

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 2495 amends the Agriculture Code to expand the program of control and suppression of the Asian citrus psyllid and citrus greening under provisions relating to the official citrus producers' pest and disease management corporation to make the program applicable to the control and suppression of citrus pests and diseases generally. The bill makes related changes, defines "pest" as a virus or organism that causes disease or other damage to citrus and that is designated by commissioner of agriculture rule for suppression under such provisions, and defines "disease" as an impairment of the normal state of citrus, caused by a virus or organism, that interrupts or modifies the performance of vital functions in citrus. The bill includes the Asian citrus psyllid in the term "pest" and citrus greening in the term "disease." 

 

C.S.H.B. 2495 removes as a commissioner-appointed member of the board of directors of the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation, Inc., one of the two representatives from industries allied with citrus production and adds as a commissioner-appointed member a representative of the nursery or ornamental citrus sales industry.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 2495 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

SECTION 1.  Sections 80.001(a) and (b), Agriculture Code, are amended.

SECTION 1. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 80.002, Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 3.  Section 80.003, Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 3. Same as introduced version.

SECTION 4.  Section 80.006(c), Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.

 

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 5.  Section 80.008(b), Agriculture Code, is amended to read as follows:

(b)  In making appointments under this section, the commissioner shall appoint the following board members, selected from a variety of citrus-growing regions of the state, for four-year terms:

(1)  an agricultural lender;

(2)  an independent entomologist who is an integrated pest management specialist;

(3)  a representative from an industry [two representatives from industries] allied with citrus production; [and]

(4)  a representative from the pest control industry; and

(5)  a representative of the nursery or ornamental citrus sales industry.

 

SECTION 5.  Sections 80.014(a) and (b), Agriculture Code, are amended.

SECTION 6. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 6.  Section 80.015(a), Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 7. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 7.  Section 80.016(i), Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 8. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 8.  Section 80.019, Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 9. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 9.  Section 80.020(b), Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 10. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 10.  Sections 80.022(a) and (b), Agriculture Code, are amended.

SECTION 11. Same as introduced version.

 

 

SECTION 11.  Section 80.024, Agriculture Code, is amended.

 

SECTION 12. Same as introduced version.

 

SECTION 12.  Section 80.025(a), Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 13. Same as introduced version.

SECTION 13.  Section 80.026(a), Agriculture Code, is amended.

SECTION 14. Same as introduced version.

 

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 15.  Section 80.008(b), Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a member of the board of directors of the Texas Citrus Pest and Disease Management Corporation, Inc., appointed on or after the effective date of this Act. A member appointed before the effective date of this Act may continue to serve until the expiration of the member's term.

 

SECTION 14.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 16. Same as introduced version.