By: Buckley, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Perry, et al.) H.B. No. 3959

(In the Senate - Received from the House May 14, 2021; May 14, 2021, read first time and referred to Committee on Water, Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 21, 2021, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 21, 2021, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the establishment of the Texas youth livestock show grant program.

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. TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK SHOW GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 50E.001. TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK SHOW GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The office of the governor shall establish and administer the Texas youth livestock show grant program. The office of the governor shall:

(1) establish grant eligibility requirements, subject to Subsection (c);

(2) establish a grant application process; and

(3) encourage participation from livestock shows of varying sizes, types of entries, and needs.

(b) Grants under this section may be used only to provide financial assistance to youth livestock shows in this state.

(c) A youth livestock show is eligible for a grant under this section if the livestock show is part of a county or state youth livestock validation program and has Texas 4-H and Texas FFA engagement or sanction.

Sec. 50E.002. TEXAS YOUTH LIVESTOCK SHOW FUND. (a) The Texas youth livestock show fund is an account in the general revenue fund administered by the office of the governor. Money in the account may be used only by the office of the governor to provide grants under Section 50E.001 and to promote and encourage donations to the fund. Not more than 10 percent of the money in the account may be used to promote and encourage donations to the fund.

(b) The Texas youth livestock show fund consists of:

(1) gifts, grants, including federal grants, and other donations received for the fund;

(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the fund;

(3) any money appropriated to the fund by the legislature; and

(4) money received from the federal government that may be used for a purpose described by Subsection (a) and that is transferred or deposited to the credit of the fund by the legislature.

(c) The office of the governor may accept grants, gifts, or donations from any source that are made for the purposes of this chapter. Money received under this subsection shall be deposited in the Texas youth livestock show fund.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.

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