89R3862 PRL-D

By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 1781

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program.

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

SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 452. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND CONTINUATION

GRANT PROGRAM

Sec. 452.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Board" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board established under Section 452.003.

(2) "Fund" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Fund established under Section 452.002.

(3) "Grant program" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program established under Section 452.006.

Sec. 452.002. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND CONTINUATION FUND; COMPTROLLER DUTIES. (a) The Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Fund is established outside the state treasury and is held in trust by the comptroller for administration of this chapter.

(b) The fund consists of:

(1) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to the fund by the legislature;

(2) gifts or grants contributed to the fund; and

(3) interest earned on the deposits and investments of the fund.

(c) The fund may be used only to implement the grant program established under Section 452.006, including the costs of grant program administration and operation.

(d) The comptroller at the direction of the board may disburse money from the fund without appropriation only as provided by this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.

(e) The comptroller in consultation with the board may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.

Sec. 452.003. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND CONTINUATION BOARD. (a) The Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board consists of seven members appointed by the governor.

(b) In appointing members to the board, the governor shall ensure each member has demonstrated interest in issues related to rodeos and county fairs in this state through:

(1) competing in rodeos; or

(2) previous service:

(A) on a board of a rodeo organization, county fair organization, 4-H program, or Future Farmers of America organization; or

(B) with an organization or program described by Paragraph (A) in the preceding 15 years.

(c) The board must include at least:

(1) two members with rodeo experience; and

(2) two members with county fair experience.

(d) Each board member the governor appoints must represent a different region of this state.

(e) A board member may not hold any other public office.

(f) A board member serves without compensation but is entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending board meetings and in performing board duties.

(g) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall appoint a member to fill the vacancy. A member appointed to fill a vacancy on the board shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term.

(h) The board shall meet quarterly.

Sec. 452.004. BOARD MEMBER TERMS. Board members serve staggered six-year terms with the terms of two or three members expiring on January 1 of each even-numbered year. A board member may not serve more than two terms.

Sec. 452.005. BOARD PRESIDING OFFICER AND ASSISTANT PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) The governor shall select from among the board members a presiding officer for the board who serves at the pleasure of the governor.

(b) The board members shall elect an assistant presiding officer from among the board members who serves at the pleasure of the board.

(c) The presiding officer and assistant presiding officer serve two-year terms.

Sec. 452.006. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND CONTINUATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The board shall establish and administer the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program to award money from the fund to county fairs and local rodeos for the purposes of assisting with:

(1) facility and infrastructure maintenance or construction;

(2) event programs;

(3) personnel salaries; and

(4) public health and safety.

(b) To be eligible for a grant award under the grant program, an applicant must:

(1) apply in the manner the board prescribes;

(2) be in good standing under the laws of this state;

(3) specify the manner the grant money would benefit county livestock programs or local youth agricultural programs within the county; and

(4) demonstrate a legitimate need for the grant money that provides a public benefit to this state in accordance with board rules.

(c) The board may only award a grant in accordance with a contract between the board and a grant recipient that includes conditions providing the board with sufficient control to ensure the public purpose of continuing to promote and improve this state's livestock and agricultural programs and to educate the public regarding those programs is accomplished and this state receives a return benefit.

(d) Each local rodeo or county fair applicant awarded a grant under the grant program shall submit:

(1) for a rodeo or county fair with an operating budget greater than $10 million, a report on the economic impact attributable to the preparation for and presentation of the rodeo or fair in the area served by the rodeo or fair; or

(2) for a rodeo or county fair with an operating budget less than $10 million, a report demonstrating the economic development needs of the community.

(e) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

Sec. 452.007. PERSONNEL. The board shall employ the officers and employees necessary to administer this chapter.

Sec. 452.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the board shall prepare and submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the legislature a report that includes:

(1) the fund balance as of the date of the report;

(2) the total amount of grant money awarded under and other disbursements from the fund during the two preceding state fiscal years;

(3) the number of grant applications submitted to the board during the two preceding state fiscal years; and

(4) the economic impact reports and community need reports submitted to the board during the two preceding state fiscal years.

SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the governor shall appoint members to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board and select a presiding officer from among the members of the board as required by Chapter 452, Government Code, as added by this Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 452.004, Government Code, as added by this Act, in making the initial appointments to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board under Subsection (a) of this section, the governor shall designate two members to serve terms expiring January 1, 2028, two members to serve terms expiring January 1, 2030, and three members to serve terms expiring January 1, 2032.

SECTION 3. As soon as practicable following the effective date of this Act, the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board shall adopt the rules necessary to administer the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program established under Section 452.006, Government Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.