By: Nelson S.B. No. 880
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to certain committees and programs to develop the wine
  industry in this state through the Department of Agriculture.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 50B.002, Agriculture
  Code, is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 50B.002.  WINE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT [AND MARKETING]
  ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
         SECTION 2.  Section 50B.002, Agriculture Code, is amended by
  amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
  (g) to read as follows:
         (a)  The commissioner shall appoint a wine industry
  development [and marketing] advisory committee to:
               (1)  develop a long-term vision and marketable identity
  for the wine industry in the state that take into consideration
  future industry development, funding, research, educational
  programming, risk management, and marketing; [and]
               (2)  assist the commissioner in establishing and
  implementing the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program under
  Chapter 110, Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
               (3)  assist and advise the commissioner in determining
  the best and most productive and efficient expenditures of the wine
  industry development fund.
         (b)  The committee consists of members appointed by the
  commissioner to [who] represent a diverse cross-section of the wine
  industry, including representatives of:
               (1)  grape growers representing various regions of this
  state;
               (2)  wineries representing a variety of small, medium,
  and large formats from the various regions of this state;
               (3)  [wholesalers;
               [(4)  package stores;
               [(5)  retailers;
               [(6)]  researchers or educators specializing in
  viticulture or enology;
               (4) [(7)]  consumers who are not affiliated with the
  alcoholic beverage industry;
               (5) [(8)]  the department; and
               (6) [(9)]  the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
         (b-1)  The members described by Subsections (b)(4) and (6)
  are nonvoting members.
         (g)  Not later than September 1 of each year, the committee
  shall provide the commissioner with a written report containing:
               (1)  a summary of the committee's discussions,
  conclusions, and recommendations from the fiscal year preceding
  that date;
               (2)  a proposed schedule and plan of action for the
  fiscal year beginning on that date designed to implement and
  further the objectives of this chapter and Chapter 110, Alcoholic
  Beverage Code;
               (3)  a proposed budget and prioritized spending plan
  for expenditures of the wine industry development fund; and
               (4)  other information requested by the commissioner or
  determined by a majority of the committee to be appropriate for
  inclusion in the report.
         SECTION 3.  Chapter 50B, Agriculture Code, is amended by
  adding Section 50B.0025 to read as follows:
         Sec. 50B.0025.  ANNUAL PLAN AND BUDGET. Not later than
  November 1 of each year, the commissioner shall prepare for the
  current fiscal year the schedule and plan of action and budget and
  prioritized spending plan described by Section 50B.002(g),
  considering the recommendations of the committee under that section
  and following them to the extent the commissioner considers
  appropriate.
         SECTION 4.  Section 50B.003(b), Agriculture Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Sections 205.03(l), (m), and (n),
  Alcoholic Beverage Code, money [Money] in the account may be
  appropriated only to the department and may be used only for the
  purpose of:
               (1)  providing funding to public or private entities to
  conduct surveys, research, and other projects related to:
                     (A)  developing the Texas wine industry;
                     (B)  developing viticulture and enology-related
  education programs;
                     (C)  eliminating and eradicating [Pierce's
  disease, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and other] diseases and
  pests that negatively impact the production of grapes and wine in
  the United States; and
                     (D)  developing technologies or practices that
  could benefit the production of grapes and wine; and
               (2)  any administrative costs the department incurs in
  fulfilling the purposes described by Subdivision (1).
         SECTION 5.  Section 50B.0015, Agriculture Code, is repealed.
         SECTION 6.  On the effective date of this Act, the wine
  industry development and marketing advisory committee is
  abolished. The commissioner of agriculture may appoint a person
  who previously served on that committee to the wine industry
  development advisory committee established under Section 50B.002,
  Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act.
         SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.