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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a strategic plan goal by the Department of Agriculture |
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to prevent crop diseases and plant pests in this state. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 12.008 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 12.008. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL: CROP DISEASE AND PLANT |
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PEST PREVENTION. The department shall include in the department's |
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strategic plan required under Chapter 2056, Government Code, a goal |
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of preventing crop diseases and plant pests in this state by: |
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(1) improving the department's preventative |
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management practices concerning crop diseases and plant pests; |
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(2) increasing the performance of activities directly |
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related to crop disease and plant pest prevention; |
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(3) creating and implementing a strong surveillance |
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program that includes activities designed to: |
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(A) identify and locate any possible source of |
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infection or exposure to domestic or foreign diseases or pests that |
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affect crops grown in this state; and |
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(B) aid the department in the early detection of |
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any domestic, foreign, or emerging crop diseases and plant pests; |
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(4) evaluating the department's diagnostic procedures |
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to ensure the performance of diagnostic evaluations and |
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investigations occurs timely and accurately; |
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(5) improving the effectiveness of the department's |
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control and eradication methods; |
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(6) evaluating and expanding, if necessary, the |
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department's emergency management activities related to crop |
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diseases and plant pests; and |
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(7) addressing how the department will educate |
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farmers, agricultural producers, and communities that sustain |
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agriculture in this state about crop disease and plant pest |
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prevention. |
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SECTION 2. The Department of Agriculture shall, using |
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existing funds, include in the first strategic plan under Chapter |
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2056, Government Code, issued after the effective date of this Act |
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the goal and methods of implementing the goal required by Section |
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12.008, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |