By: West S.B. No. 199
(In the Senate - Filed November 9, 2010; January 31, 2011,
read first time and referred to Committee on Agriculture and Rural
Affairs; March 17, 2011, reported favorably by the following vote:
Yeas 3, Nays 0; March 17, 2011, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to agricultural projects in certain schools, including the
eligibility of nonprofit organizations that partner with schools to
receive grants.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 48.001, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 48.001. CREATION. (a) Consistent with this chapter,
the department by rule shall develop a program to award grants to
public elementary and middle schools located in large urban school
districts for the purpose of establishing:
(1) demonstration agricultural projects; or
(2) other projects designed to foster an understanding
and awareness of agriculture.
(b) The department may award a grant under this chapter to a
nonprofit organization that partners with a school described by
Subsection (a) to establish a project described by Subsection (a)
at the school.
SECTION 2. Section 48.002, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 48.002. ELIGIBILITY. Subject to available funds, a
public elementary or middle school, or a nonprofit organization
that partners with the school, is eligible to receive a grant under
this chapter if the school:
(1) is located in a school district with an enrollment
of at least 49,000 students; and
(2) submits to the department, at the time and in the
form required by the department, a proposal for a demonstration
agricultural project that includes:
(A) a description of the proposed project;
(B) a schedule of projected costs for the
project; [and]
(C) a statement of the educational benefits of
the project, including how the project will improve understanding
of agriculture; and
(D) if a nonprofit organization is applying for
the grant, a statement from the school that the nonprofit
organization is partnering with the school.
SECTION 3. Section 48.004, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 48.004. REPORT. A school or nonprofit organization
that receives a grant under this chapter must report the results of
the project to the department in a manner determined by the
department.
SECTION 4. Section 48.003, Agriculture Code, is repealed.
SECTION 5. 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, 2011.
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