84R10371 BEF-D
By: González H.B. No. 3983
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Global Agricultural Initiative Institute program
administered by the Department of Agriculture.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
Chapter 50E to read as follows:
CHAPTER 50E. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE INSTITUTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 50E.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Council" means the Global Agricultural
Initiative Institute Council.
(2) "Program" means the Global Agricultural
Initiative Institute program.
Sec. 50E.002. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER AND
DEPARTMENT. (a) The department shall administer this chapter and
may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.
(b) The commissioner may appoint or employ consultants or
other agents as necessary for the business of the program.
(c) The department may contract with any state institution
of higher education, state agency, domestic or foreign person, or
federal agency to perform services or provide facilities for the
council.
Sec. 50E.003. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this chapter, the department is not required to
award grants or otherwise implement this chapter and the
commissioner is not required to appoint council members unless the
department is appropriated money or accepts a gift, grant, or
donation for the purpose of implementing this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER B. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE INSTITUTE PROGRAM
Sec. 50E.051. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. The department may
establish the program to enhance and create developing
technologies, recruit businesses to this state, and enhance and
create markets to advance and promote the sale of Texas
agricultural products and services worldwide.
Sec. 50E.052. AWARD OF GRANTS. The department may award
grants to further the purposes of the program. The use of grant
money is restricted by the terms of the grant.
Sec. 50E.053. PROGRAM ACCOUNT. (a) The Global
Agricultural Initiative Institute account is an account in the
general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
(1) legislative appropriations;
(2) gifts, grants, and donations received under
Section 50E.054; and
(3) other money required by law to be deposited in the
account.
(b) Money in the account may be appropriated only to the
department for the purpose of the program.
(c) Income from money in the account shall be credited to
the account.
(d) The account is exempt from the application of Section
403.095, Government Code.
(e) The department may transfer to the account money from
another account or fund administered by the department to the
extent that money may be used for the purposes of this chapter.
(f) To the extent provided by legislative appropriation,
the department may carry forward money in the account from the first
fiscal year of a biennium to the second year and may carry forward
the unexpended balance of the account from one fiscal biennium to
the next.
Sec. 50E.054. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The council
and the department may solicit, accept, and use gifts, grants, and
donations from public and private sources for the purposes of this
chapter, subject only to limitations contained in the gifts,
grants, or donations.
SUBCHAPTER C. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE INSTITUTE COUNCIL
Sec. 50E.101. MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS. (a) The council is
composed of:
(1) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee,
who is the chair of the council; and
(2) one representative of each of the following,
appointed by the commissioner:
(A) Texas A&M University;
(B) The University of Texas at Austin;
(C) Texas Tech University;
(D) the agriculture marketing industry;
(E) international agricultural financing
businesses;
(F) the livestock industry in this state;
(G) the crop production industry in this state;
(H) international trade; and
(I) humanitarian interests.
(b) Members appointed under Subsection (a)(2) serve
staggered six-year terms, with as near as possible to one-third of
the members' terms expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered
year.
(c) Membership on the council by a state officer or employee
is an additional duty of the officer's or employee's employment.
Sec. 50E.102. DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall
advise the department in the administration of the program.
(b) The council shall select the recipients of any grants
awarded under the program.
(c) The council may conduct surveys, research, or
investigations for the purposes of the program.
Sec. 50E.103. MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
once each year at the call of the chair.
Sec. 50E.104. EXPENSES. A member of the council is not
entitled to compensation for service on the council or
reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while
conducting council business.
Sec. 50E.105. STAFF AND RESOURCES. The commissioner shall
provide the council with necessary staff and resources to perform
the council's duties under this chapter, as determined by the
commissioner.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.