By: Hegar S.B. No. 378
(Hunter)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the date by which a pest management zone or cotton
grower may request an extension of the cotton stalk destruction
deadline.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (b) and (c), Section 74.0032,
Agriculture Code, are amended to read as follows:
(b) If adverse weather conditions or other good cause
exists, the administrative committee that governs the applicable
pest management zone may request that the department grant an
extension of the cotton stalk destruction deadline for any
specified part of the pest management zone or for the entire pest
management zone. A request under this subsection must be made
within the period specified by department rule [not later than 10
business days before the applicable cotton stalk destruction
deadline]. A field is not subject to a hostable cotton fee if the
department grants an extension of the deadline. The Texas Boll
Weevil Eradication Foundation shall submit to the department an
estimate of the amount by which an extension under this subsection
will increase the cost of administering the boll weevil eradication
program.
(c) If the applicable administrative committee does not
request an extension, or if the department denies a request for an
extension of the cotton stalk destruction deadline for a specified
part of a pest management zone, a cotton grower may apply for an
individual extension of the deadline. A request under this
subsection must be made within the period specified by department
rule [not later than 10 business days before the applicable pest
management zone's stalk destruction deadline].
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by Section 74.0032,
Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act, apply only to a request
for an extension made on or after the effective date of this Act. A
request for an extension made before the effective date of this Act
is subject to the law in effect on that date, and that law is
continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.