86R1894 TSR-D

By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 70

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to a strategic plan goal by the Department of Agriculture to prevent crop diseases in this state.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding Section 12.008 to read as follows:

Sec. 12.008. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL: CROP DISEASE PREVENTION. The department shall include in the department's strategic plan required under Chapter 2056, Government Code, a goal of preventing crop diseases in this state by:

(1) improving the department's preventative management practices concerning crop diseases;

(2) increasing the performance of activities directly related to crop disease prevention;

(3) creating and implementing a strong surveillance program that includes activities designed to:

(A) identify and locate any possible source of infection or exposure to domestic or foreign diseases that affect crops grown in this state; and

(B) aid the department in the early detection of any domestic, foreign, or emerging crop diseases;

(4) evaluating the department's diagnostic procedures to ensure the performance of diagnostic evaluations and investigations occurs timely and accurately;

(5) improving the effectiveness of the department's control and eradication methods;

(6) evaluating and expanding, if necessary, the department's emergency management activities related to crop diseases; and

(7) addressing how the department will educate farmers, agricultural producers, and communities that sustain agriculture in this state about crop disease prevention.

SECTION 2. The Department of Agriculture shall, using existing funds, include in the first strategic plan under Chapter 2056, Government Code, issued after the effective date of this Act the goal and methods of implementing the goal required by Section 12.008, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.