| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to creation of the Screwworm Abatement Trust (SWAT) Fund. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
|
|
amended by adding Section 403.111 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 403.111. SCREWWORM ABATEMENT TRUST FUND. (a) The |
|
|
Screwworm Abatement Trust Fund is established as a trust fund |
|
|
outside the state treasury with the comptroller as trustee. |
|
|
(b) The trust fund is established to provide a fund from |
|
|
which the comptroller as trustee may support activities related to |
|
|
the prevention, control, and eradication of the New World |
|
|
Screwworm. |
|
|
(c) The trust fund consists of money gifted, granted, |
|
|
donated, or appropriated for deposit to the credit of the trust fund |
|
|
and any interest or other earnings attributable to the trust fund. |
|
|
The comptroller shall hold money credited to the trust fund for use |
|
|
only for screwworm prevention, control, or eradication efforts and |
|
|
expenses incurred in administering the trust fund. The balance of |
|
|
the trust fund may not exceed $50 million at any time. The |
|
|
comptroller may establish in the trust fund one or more accounts to |
|
|
administer money designated for a particular screwworm-related |
|
|
purpose for which money has been credited to the trust fund. |
|
|
(d) The comptroller may distribute money from the trust fund |
|
|
to support screwworm-related programs, research, surveillance, and |
|
|
emergency response activities carried out by public agencies, |
|
|
institutions of higher education, or other governmental entities. |
|
|
(e) The comptroller may coordinate with local, state, |
|
|
federal, and interstate agencies or institutions to ensure the |
|
|
effective use of trust fund resources for intergovernmental |
|
|
screwworm abatement efforts. |
|
|
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, 2025. |