By: Thimesch (Senate Sponsor - Kolkhorst) H.B. No. 4644
(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
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
PerryX
HancockX
BlancoX
FloresX
GutierrezX
JohnsonX
KolkhorstX
SparksX
SpringerX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to an alert system for dangerous plant and wildlife pests
and diseases administered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Service.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 88, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 88.823 to read as follows:
Sec. 88.823. PEST, DISEASE, AND QUARANTINE ALERT SYSTEM.
(a) With the cooperation of the Department of Agriculture, the
Texas Animal Health Commission, and the Parks and Wildlife
Department, the extension service shall develop and implement a
statewide Internet-based alert system for notifications related to
wildlife and plant pests, diseases, and quarantines. The alert
system must issue notifications for:
(1) a confirmed case of a dangerous plant or wildlife
pest or disease;
(2) the establishment, modification, or removal of a
pest or disease quarantine order; and
(3) any compliance agreements entered into with the
Department of Agriculture related to a pest or disease quarantine.
(b) The alert system established under this section must:
(1) issue notifications through e-mail; and
(2) provide for enrollment in the alert system for
delivery of a system notification.
(c) The extension service shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding with the Department of Agriculture, the Texas Animal
Health Commission, and the Parks and Wildlife Department to ensure
the extension service is able to issue a required notification
under Subsection (a) within 72 hours of an applicable action by
those agencies.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
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