By: González of El Paso, et al. H.B. No. 70
(Senate Sponsor - Hall)
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2019;
May 7, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture; May 9, 2019, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 9, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a strategic plan goal by the Department of Agriculture
to prevent crop diseases and plant pests in this state.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, is amended by
adding Section 12.008 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.008. STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL: CROP DISEASE AND PLANT
PEST PREVENTION. The department shall include in the department's
strategic plan required under Chapter 2056, Government Code, a goal
of preventing crop diseases and plant pests in this state by:
(1) improving the department's preventative
management practices concerning crop diseases and plant pests;
(2) increasing the performance of activities directly
related to crop disease and plant pest prevention;
(3) creating and implementing a strong surveillance
program that includes activities designed to:
(A) identify and locate any possible source of
infection or exposure to domestic or foreign diseases or pests that
affect crops grown in this state; and
(B) aid the department in the early detection of
any domestic, foreign, or emerging crop diseases and plant pests;
(4) evaluating the department's diagnostic procedures
to ensure the performance of diagnostic evaluations and
investigations occurs timely and accurately;
(5) improving the effectiveness of the department's
control and eradication methods;
(6) evaluating and expanding, if necessary, the
department's emergency management activities related to crop
diseases and plant pests; and
(7) addressing how the department will educate
farmers, agricultural producers, and communities that sustain
agriculture in this state about crop disease and plant pest
prevention.
SECTION 2. The Department of Agriculture shall, using
existing funds, include in the first strategic plan under Chapter
2056, Government Code, issued after the effective date of this Act
the goal and methods of implementing the goal required by Section
12.008, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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