84R10014 AJZ-D
By: Stephenson H.B. No. 2548
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the disposal of agricultural pesticides.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, is
amended by adding Sections 76.009 and 76.010 to read as follows:
Sec. 76.009. PESTICIDE EDUCATION PROGRAM. The department,
in coordination with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service,
shall develop and implement a program to educate the public,
including rural and horticultural pesticide applicators, on the
proper use and disposal of pesticides. The program must include
instruction by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agents and
specialists on proper container handling and preparation to comply
with federal law.
Sec. 76.010. PESTICIDE EDUCATION AND DISPOSAL FUND. (a)
The pesticide education and disposal fund is a fund in the state
treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund consists of:
(1) money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 76.044; and
(2) interest earned on the investment of money in the
fund.
(b) The department shall administer the fund. Money in the
fund may be appropriated only for the purposes of:
(1) administering the program described by Section
76.009; and
(2) the pesticide waste and container collection
activities performed under Section 76.132.
SECTION 2. Section 76.044, Agriculture Code, is amended by
adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
(c) Of the money received by the department under this
section, the department shall deposit 51 percent to the credit of
the pesticide education and disposal fund under Section 76.010.
SECTION 3. Subchapter F, Chapter 76, Agriculture Code, is
amended by adding Section 76.132 to read as follows:
Sec. 76.132. DISPOSAL OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE. The
department, in coordination with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service, shall organize pesticide waste and container collection
activities statewide. The department and Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension Service may contract for the services of contractors that
are licensed in the disposal of hazardous waste under Section
401.202, Health and Safety Code, to implement the pesticide waste
and container collection activities.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.