By: Burns, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 2851
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 3, 2023;
May 5, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on Water,
Agriculture & Rural Affairs; May 19, 2023, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; May 19, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the composition of the board of directors of the Texas
Agricultural Finance Authority and grant amounts under the young
farmer grant program administered by the authority.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 58.012(a), Agriculture Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The authority is governed by a board of directors
composed of the commissioner of agriculture, a representative of
the College of Agriculture and Human Sciences [the director of the
Institute for International Agribusiness Studies] at Prairie View
A&M University selected by the dean of the college, a
representative of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
at Tarleton State University selected by the dean of the college,
and 10 [nine] members appointed by the commissioner. Members of
the board must be appointed in the numbers specified and from the
following categories:
(1) one person who is an elected or appointed official
of a municipality or county;
(2) four persons who are knowledgeable about
agricultural lending practices;
(3) one person who is a representative of agricultural
businesses;
(4) one person who is a representative of agriculture
related entities, including rural chambers of commerce,
foundations, trade associations, institutions of higher education,
or other entities involved in agricultural matters; [and]
(5) two persons who represent young farmers and the
interests of young farmers; and
(6) one person who is knowledgeable about agricultural
practices and graduated with an agriculture degree from a state
institution of higher education within the past eight years.
SECTION 2. Section 58.093, Agriculture Code, is amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 58.093. AMOUNT OF GRANTS. A grant under the young
farmer grant program may not be less than $5,000 or more than
$35,000 [$20,000].
SECTION 3. Section 58.093, Agriculture Code, as amended by
this Act, applies only to a grant issued on or after the effective
date of this Act. A grant issued before the effective date of this
Act is governed by the law in effect on the date the grant is issued,
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act in the
qualifications of appointed members of the board of directors of
the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority do not affect the
entitlement of an appointed member serving on the board immediately
before the effective date of this Act to continue to serve for the
remainder of the member's term. As the terms of board members
expire, the commissioner of agriculture shall appoint or reappoint
a member who has the qualifications required for a member under
Section 58.012(a), Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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