By: Lucio S.B. No. 2333
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the marketing of shrimp and aquaculture products.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 47.051, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 47.051. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
(1) "Advisory committee" means the shrimp advisory
committee.
(2) "Coastal waters" means all the salt water of the
state, including the portion of the Gulf of Mexico that is within
the jurisdiction of the state.
(3) "Program" means the Texas shrimp marketing
assistance program.
(4) "Shrimp marketing account" means the account in
the general revenue fund established under Section 77.002(b), Parks
and Wildlife Code.
(5) "Texas-produced shrimp" means wild caught shrimp
commercially harvested from coastal waters by shrimp boats licensed
by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department [and produced within the
borders of the state.]
SECTION 2. Sec. 47.052(a), Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(a) The Texas shrimp marketing assistance program is
established in the department to assist the Texas shrimping
industry in promoting and marketing Texas-produced shrimp and
educating the public about the Texas wild caught shrimping industry
and Texas-produced shrimp.
SECTION 3. Sec. 47.053(b), Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
(b) The advisory committee shall be composed of the
following 9[10] members:
(1) two owners of commercial bay shrimp boats;
(2) two owners of commercial gulf shrimp boats;
(3) [one member of the Texas shrimp aquaculture
industry;]
[(4)] one retail wild caught shrimp fish dealer;
(4) [(5)] one wholesale wild caught shrimp fish
dealer;
(5) [(6)] one person employed by an institution of
higher education as a researcher or instructor specializing in the
area of food science, particularly seafood;
(6) [(7)] one member of the seafood restaurant
industry; and
(7) [(8)] one representative of the public.
SECTION 4. Sec. 47.055, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 47.055. PROMOTION, MARKETING, AND EDUCATION. The
program shall promote and advertise the Texas shrimping industry
by:
(1) developing and maintaining a database of Texas
shrimp wholesalers that sell Texas produced-shrimp;
(2) operating a toll-free telephone number to
(A) receive inquiries from persons who wish to
purchase a particular type of Texas-produced shrimp; and
(B) make information about the Texas shrimping
industry available to the public;
(3) developing a shrimping industry marketing plan to
increase the consumption of Texas-produced shrimp;
(4) educating the public about Texas-produced shrimp
by providing publicity about the information in the program's
database to the public and making the information available to the
public through the department's toll-free telephone number and
electronically through the Internet;
(5) promoting the Texas shrimping industry; and
(6) promoting and marketing, and educating consumers
about, Texas-produced shrimp using any other method the
commissioner determines appropriate.
SECTION 5. Sec. 134.014, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 134.014. LICENSE FEES. [(a)] The department shall
issue an aquaculture license or a fish farm vehicle license on
completion of applicable license requirements and the payment of a
fee by the applicant, as provided by department rule.
(b) In addition to the fees under Subsection (a), the
department shall assess and collect a surcharge on the annual
license fee for aquaculture facilities producing shrimp for the
purpose of funding the Texas shrimp marketing assistance program
created under Subchapter B, Chapter 47. The amount of the surcharge
shall be set each year, as provided by department rule, in an amount
equal to 10 percent of the fees generated by the Parks and Wildlife
Department under Section 77.002(c), Parks and Wildlife Cede.
(c) The department shall deposit at the end of each quarter,
to the credit of the shrimp marketing account, the fees received
under Subsection (b) for use by the department to conduct and
operate the Texas shrimp marketing assistance program created under
Subchapter B, Chapter 47.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.