84R25479 BEF-D
By: González H.B. No. 3983
Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3983:
By: King of Uvalde C.S.H.B. No. 3983
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Global Agricultural Innovation 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 INNOVATION INSTITUTE
SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 50E.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Global Agricultural Innovation
Institute Board.
(2) "Program" means the Global Agricultural
Innovation 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
board.
Sec. 50E.003. AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this chapter, the department is not required to
grant awards or otherwise implement this chapter and the
commissioner is not required to appoint board members unless the
department accepts a gift, grant, or donation of money or real or
personal property for the purpose of implementing this chapter.
SUBCHAPTER B. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION INSTITUTE PROGRAM
Sec. 50E.051. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. The department may
establish the program to enhance and create developing
technologies, recruit businesses to this state, develop businesses
in this state, and enhance and create markets to advance and promote
the sale of Texas agricultural products and services worldwide.
Sec. 50E.052. AWARDS. The department may award grants of
money from the Global Agricultural Innovation Institute account and
real or personal property held outside the account to further the
purposes of the program. The use of the award is restricted by the
terms of the award. The department may use only money or property
received under Section 50E.054 to grant an award under this
chapter.
Sec. 50E.053. PROGRAM ACCOUNT. (a) The Global
Agricultural Innovation Institute account is an account in the
general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
(1) gifts, grants, and donations of money received
under Section 50E.054; and
(2) 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.
Sec. 50E.054. GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The board and
the department may solicit, accept, and use gifts, grants, and
donations of money or real or personal property 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 INNOVATION INSTITUTE BOARD
Sec. 50E.101. MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS. (a) The board is
composed of:
(1) the commissioner or the commissioner's designee;
(2) one representative of each of the following,
appointed by the commissioner:
(A) The Texas A&M University System;
(B) The University of Texas System;
(C) the Texas Tech University System;
(D) the Texas State University System;
(E) the University of Houston System;
(F) the University of North Texas System;
(G) independent institutions of higher education
in this state;
(H) private institutions of higher education in
this state;
(I) the agriculture marketing industry;
(J) international agricultural financing
businesses;
(K) the livestock industry in this state;
(L) the crop production industry in this state;
(M) international trade;
(N) the horticultural industry in this state; and
(O) humanitarian interests; and
(3) at least four additional at-large members
appointed by the commissioner who represent diverse sectors of the
agricultural industry.
(b) Members appointed under Subsections (a)(2) and (3)
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) The board members shall nominate and elect a board
member as chair. The chair serves a one-year term. A person who has
served as chair for three consecutive terms is not eligible for
reelection as chair until the third anniversary of the date the
person last served as chair.
(d) Membership on the board by a state officer or employee
is an additional duty of the officer's or employee's employment.
(e) A board member is not a state officer for purposes of
Section 572.021, Government Code, solely because of the member's
service on the board. Board members otherwise required to comply
with Section 572.021, Government Code, are not exempt from that
requirement as a result of service on the board.
Sec. 50E.102. DUTIES OF BOARD. (a) The board shall advise
the department in the administration of the program.
(b) The board shall select the recipients of and grant all
awards, contracts, and partnerships related to the program.
(c) The board may conduct surveys, research, or
investigations for the purposes of the program.
Sec. 50E.103. MEETINGS. (a) The board shall meet at least
twice each year at the call of the chair.
(b) Notwithstanding Chapter 551, Government Code, the board
may hold an open or closed meeting by telephone conference call if
immediate action is required and the convening at one location of a
quorum of the board is inconvenient for any member of the board.
(c) The meeting held by telephone conference call is subject
to the notice requirements applicable to other meetings.
(d) The notice of a meeting held by telephone conference
call must specify as the location of the meeting the location where
meetings of the board are usually held.
(e) Each part of a meeting held by telephone conference call
that is required to be open to the public shall be audible to the
public at the location specified in the notice of the meeting as the
location of the meeting and shall be recorded.
Sec. 50E.104. COMPENSATION. (a) A member of the board is
not entitled to compensation for service on the board.
(b) A member of the board is entitled to reimbursement for
travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting board
business.
Sec. 50E.105. STAFF AND RESOURCES. (a) The commissioner
shall provide the board with necessary staff and resources to
perform the board's duties under this chapter, as determined by the
commissioner during the state fiscal biennium in which the board is
established and during the next state fiscal biennium.
(b) The board shall hire through an application and
interview process a chief executive officer. The board shall
determine the duties of the chief executive officer.
(c) After the period described by Subsection (a), the chief
executive officer shall employ staff necessary to implement the
program, shall have sole authority to employ and terminate
employees, and may appoint or employ consultants, professionals, or
other agents necessary to conduct the business of the program.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.