By: Nelson S.B. No. 880
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to certain committees and programs to develop the wine
industry in this state through the Department of Agriculture.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. The heading to Section 50B.002, Agriculture
Code, is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 50B.002. WINE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT [AND MARKETING]
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
SECTION 2. Section 50B.002, Agriculture Code, is amended by
amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
(g) to read as follows:
(a) The commissioner shall appoint a wine industry
development [and marketing] advisory committee to:
(1) develop a long-term vision and marketable identity
for the wine industry in the state that take into consideration
future industry development, funding, research, educational
programming, risk management, and marketing; [and]
(2) assist the commissioner in establishing and
implementing the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program under
Chapter 110, Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
(3) assist and advise the commissioner in determining
the best and most productive and efficient expenditures of the wine
industry development fund.
(b) The committee consists of members appointed by the
commissioner to [who] represent a diverse cross-section of the wine
industry, including representatives of:
(1) grape growers representing various regions of this
state;
(2) wineries representing a variety of small, medium
and large formats from the various regions of this state;
(3) [wholesalers;
[(4) package stores;
[(5) retailers;
[(6)] researchers or educators specializing in
viticulture or enology;
(4) [(7)] consumers who are not affiliated with the
alcoholic beverage industry;
(5) [(8)] the department; and
(6) [(9)] the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
(b-1) The members described by Subsections (b)(4) and (6)
are nonvoting members.
(g) Not later than September 1 of each year, the committee
shall provide the commissioner with a written report containing:
(1) a summary of the committee's discussions,
conclusions, and recommendations from the fiscal year preceding
that date;
(2) a proposed schedule and plan of action for the
fiscal year beginning on that date designed to implement and
further the objectives of this chapter and Chapter 110, Alcoholic
Beverage Code;
(3) a proposed budget and prioritized spending plan
for expenditures of the wine industry development fund; and
(4) other information requested by the commissioner or
determined by a majority of the committee to be appropriate for
inclusion in the report.
SECTION 3. Chapter 50B, Agriculture Code, is amended by
adding Section 50B.0025 to read as follows:
Sec. 50B.0025. ANNUAL PLAN AND BUDGET. Not later than
November 1 of each year, the commissioner shall prepare for the
current fiscal year the schedule and plan of action and budget and
prioritized spending plan described by Section 50B.002(g),
considering the recommendations of the committee under that section
and following them to the extent the commissioner considers
appropriate.
SECTION 4. Section 50B.003(b), Agriculture Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(b) Except as provided by Sections 205.03(l), (m), and (n),
Alcoholic Beverage Code, money [Money] in the account may be
appropriated only to the department and may be used only for the
purpose of:
(1) providing funding to public or private entities to
conduct surveys, research, and other projects related to:
(A) developing the Texas wine industry;
(B) developing viticulture and enology-related
education programs;
(C) eliminating and eradicating Pierce's
disease, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and other diseases and
pests that negatively impact the production of grapes and wine in
the United States; and
(D) developing technologies or practices that
could benefit the production of grapes and wine; and
(2) any administrative costs the department incurs in
fulfilling the purposes described by Subdivision (1).
SECTION 5. Section 50B.0015, Agriculture Code, is repealed.
SECTION 6. On the effective date of this Act, the wine
industry development and marketing advisory committee is
abolished. The commissioner of agriculture may appoint a person
who previously served on that committee to the wine industry
development advisory committee established under Section 50B.002,
Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.