84R25479 BEF-D
 
  By: González H.B. No. 3983
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3983:
 
  By:  King of Uvalde C.S.H.B. No. 3983
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the Global Agricultural Innovation Institute program
  administered by the Department of Agriculture.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
  Chapter 50E to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 50E. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION INSTITUTE
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 50E.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Board" means the Global Agricultural Innovation
  Institute Board.
               (2)  "Program" means the Global Agricultural
  Innovation Institute program.
         Sec. 50E.002.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER AND
  DEPARTMENT. (a)  The department shall administer this chapter and
  may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.
         (b)  The commissioner may appoint or employ consultants or
  other agents as necessary for the business of the program.
         (c)  The department may contract with any state institution
  of higher education, state agency, domestic or foreign person, or
  federal agency to perform services or provide facilities for the
  board.
         Sec. 50E.003.  AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. Notwithstanding any
  other provision of this chapter, the department is not required to
  grant awards or otherwise implement this chapter and the
  commissioner is not required to appoint board members unless the
  department accepts a gift, grant, or donation of money or real or
  personal property for the purpose of implementing this chapter.
  SUBCHAPTER B. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION INSTITUTE PROGRAM
         Sec. 50E.051.  PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. The department may
  establish the program to enhance and create developing
  technologies, recruit businesses to this state, develop businesses
  in this state, and enhance and create markets to advance and promote
  the sale of Texas agricultural products and services worldwide.
         Sec. 50E.052.  AWARDS. The department may award grants of
  money from the Global Agricultural Innovation Institute account and
  real or personal property held outside the account to further the
  purposes of the program. The use of the award is restricted by the
  terms of the award. The department may use only money or property
  received under Section 50E.054 to grant an award under this
  chapter.
         Sec. 50E.053.  PROGRAM ACCOUNT. (a) The Global
  Agricultural Innovation Institute account is an account in the
  general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
               (1)  gifts, grants, and donations of money received
  under Section 50E.054; and
               (2)  other money required by law to be deposited in the
  account.
         (b)  Money in the account may be appropriated only to the
  department for the purpose of the program.
         (c)  Income from money in the account shall be credited to
  the account.
         (d)  The account is exempt from the application of Section
  403.095, Government Code.
         Sec. 50E.054.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The board and
  the department may solicit, accept, and use gifts, grants, and
  donations of money or real or personal property from public and
  private sources for the purposes of this chapter, subject only to
  limitations contained in the gifts, grants, or donations.
  SUBCHAPTER C. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION INSTITUTE BOARD
         Sec. 50E.101.  MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS. (a)  The board is
  composed of:
               (1)  the commissioner or the commissioner's designee;
               (2)  one representative of each of the following,
  appointed by the commissioner:
                     (A)  The Texas A&M University System;
                     (B)  The University of Texas System;
                     (C)  the Texas Tech University System;
                     (D)  the Texas State University System;
                     (E)  the University of Houston System;
                     (F)  the University of North Texas System;
                     (G)  independent institutions of higher education
  in this state;
                     (H)  private institutions of higher education in
  this state;
                     (I)  the agriculture marketing industry;
                     (J)  international agricultural financing
  businesses;
                     (K)  the livestock industry in this state;
                     (L)  the crop production industry in this state;
                     (M)  international trade;
                     (N)  the horticultural industry in this state; and
                     (O)  humanitarian interests; and
               (3)  at least four additional at-large members
  appointed by the commissioner who represent diverse sectors of the
  agricultural industry.
         (b)  Members appointed under Subsections (a)(2) and (3)
  serve staggered six-year terms, with as near as possible to
  one-third of the members' terms expiring on February 1 of each
  odd-numbered year.
         (c)  The board members shall nominate and elect a board
  member as chair. The chair serves a one-year term. A person who has
  served as chair for three consecutive terms is not eligible for
  reelection as chair until the third anniversary of the date the
  person last served as chair.
         (d)  Membership on the board by a state officer or employee
  is an additional duty of the officer's or employee's employment.
         (e)  A board member is not a state officer for purposes of
  Section 572.021, Government Code, solely because of the member's
  service on the board. Board members otherwise required to comply
  with Section 572.021, Government Code, are not exempt from that
  requirement as a result of service on the board.
         Sec. 50E.102.  DUTIES OF BOARD. (a) The board shall advise
  the department in the administration of the program.
         (b)  The board shall select the recipients of and grant all
  awards, contracts, and partnerships related to the program.
         (c)  The board may conduct surveys, research, or
  investigations for the purposes of the program.
         Sec. 50E.103.  MEETINGS. (a)  The board shall meet at least
  twice each year at the call of the chair.
         (b)  Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the board
  may hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call if
  immediate action is required and the convening at one location of a
  quorum of the board is inconvenient for any member of the board.
         (c)  The meeting held by telephone conference call is subject
  to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings.
         (d)  The notice of a meeting held by telephone conference
  call must specify as the location of the meeting the location where
  meetings of the board are usually held.
         (e)  Each part of a meeting held by telephone conference call
  that is required to be open to the public shall be audible to the
  public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the
  location of the meeting and shall be recorded.
         Sec. 50E.104.  COMPENSATION. (a)  A member of the board is
  not entitled to compensation for service on the board.
         (b)  A member of the board is entitled to reimbursement for
  travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting board
  business.
         Sec. 50E.105.  STAFF AND RESOURCES. (a)  The commissioner
  shall provide the board with necessary staff and resources to
  perform the board's duties under this chapter, as determined by the
  commissioner during the state fiscal biennium in which the board is
  established and during the next state fiscal biennium.
         (b)  The board shall hire through an application and
  interview process a chief executive officer. The board shall
  determine the duties of the chief executive officer.
         (c)  After the period described by Subsection (a), the chief
  executive officer shall employ staff necessary to implement the
  program, shall have sole authority to employ and terminate
  employees, and may appoint or employ consultants, professionals, or
  other agents necessary to conduct the business of the program.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.