| 3 | 5 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 6 | | |
|---|
| 5 | 7 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
|---|
| 6 | 8 | | AN ACT |
|---|
| 7 | 9 | | relating to the task force on pollinator health. |
|---|
| 8 | 10 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|---|
| 9 | 11 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 131, Agriculture Code, is |
|---|
| 10 | 12 | | amended by adding Section 131.011 to read as follows: |
|---|
| 11 | 13 | | Sec. 131.011. TASK FORCE ON POLLINATOR HEALTH. (a) In this |
|---|
| 12 | 14 | | section, "task force" means the task force on pollinator health |
|---|
| 13 | 15 | | under this section. The governor shall establish the task force and |
|---|
| 14 | 16 | | the membership of the task force. |
|---|
| 15 | 17 | | (b) The task force consists of members appointed by the |
|---|
| 16 | 18 | | governor, including: |
|---|
| 17 | 19 | | (1) one member who is a university faculty member |
|---|
| 18 | 20 | | specializing in the science of pollinator health; |
|---|
| 19 | 21 | | (2) one member representing an advocacy group for |
|---|
| 20 | 22 | | nurseries and greenhouse producers; |
|---|
| 21 | 23 | | (3) one member representing an advocacy group for |
|---|
| 22 | 24 | | agriculture in this state; |
|---|
| 23 | 25 | | (4) one member representing an advocacy group |
|---|
| 24 | 26 | | dedicated to the protection of pollinators and invertebrates; |
|---|
| 25 | 27 | | (5) one member representing an advocacy group for |
|---|
| 26 | 28 | | pesticide applicators; |
|---|
| 27 | 29 | | (6) one member who is certified as a master gardener by |
|---|
| 28 | 30 | | the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and who represents the |
|---|
| 29 | 31 | | public; |
|---|
| 30 | 32 | | (7) one member who is a beekeeper and who represents |
|---|
| 31 | 33 | | the public; and |
|---|
| 32 | 34 | | (8) one member who is an employee of the Parks and |
|---|
| 33 | 35 | | Wildlife Department who specializes in melittology. |
|---|
| 34 | 36 | | (c) The task force shall undertake activities to examine |
|---|
| 35 | 37 | | issues relevant to pollinator health, including: |
|---|
| 36 | 38 | | (1) identifying ways the state can incentivize the |
|---|
| 37 | 39 | | development of new pollinator habitat in residential, commercial, |
|---|
| 38 | 40 | | and public areas; |
|---|
| 39 | 41 | | (2) studying public education and outreach plans |
|---|
| 40 | 42 | | regarding pollinator health that have been successful in other |
|---|
| 41 | 43 | | states; |
|---|
| 42 | 44 | | (3) investigating the means used by other states to |
|---|
| 43 | 45 | | gather data on populations of bees or other pollinating insects; |
|---|
| 44 | 46 | | and |
|---|
| 45 | 47 | | (4) identifying ways to prevent loss of pollinator |
|---|
| 46 | 48 | | habitat. |
|---|
| 47 | 49 | | (d) The task force may take actions necessary and proper to |
|---|
| 48 | 50 | | carry out the work of the task force, including scheduling hearings |
|---|
| 49 | 51 | | and taking testimony on matters related to pollinator health. |
|---|
| 50 | 52 | | (e) A majority of the members of the task force constitutes |
|---|
| 51 | 53 | | a quorum for the transaction of business. |
|---|
| 52 | 54 | | (f) Official action by the task force requires the approval |
|---|
| 53 | 55 | | of a majority of the members of the task force. |
|---|
| 54 | 56 | | (g) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as |
|---|
| 55 | 57 | | presiding officer. |
|---|
| 56 | 58 | | (h) The governor shall appoint a qualified person to fill a |
|---|
| 57 | 59 | | vacancy on the task force. |
|---|
| 58 | 60 | | (i) The task force shall meet at times and places specified |
|---|
| 59 | 61 | | by the call of the presiding officer or of a majority of the members |
|---|
| 60 | 62 | | of the task force. |
|---|
| 61 | 63 | | (j) The task force may adopt bylaws necessary for the |
|---|
| 62 | 64 | | operation of the task force. |
|---|
| 63 | 65 | | (k) Not later than October 1, 2026, the task force shall |
|---|
| 64 | 66 | | submit a report, which may include recommendations for legislation, |
|---|
| 65 | 67 | | to the standing committees of the senate and the house of |
|---|
| 66 | 68 | | representatives with primary jurisdiction over agriculture. The |
|---|
| 67 | 69 | | task force may provide progress reports to those committees before |
|---|
| 68 | 70 | | October 1, 2026. |
|---|
| 69 | 71 | | (l) The governor may provide staff support to the task |
|---|
| 70 | 72 | | force. |
|---|
| 71 | 73 | | (m) Members of the task force are not entitled to |
|---|
| 72 | 74 | | compensation but may be reimbursed for actual and necessary travel |
|---|
| 73 | 75 | | and other expenses incurred in the performance of their official |
|---|
| 74 | 76 | | duties in the manner and amounts provided for in the General |
|---|
| 75 | 77 | | Appropriations Act. |
|---|
| 76 | 78 | | (n) Each state agency shall assist the task force in the |
|---|
| 77 | 79 | | performance of its duties and, to the extent permitted by laws |
|---|
| 78 | 80 | | relating to confidentiality, shall furnish information and advice |
|---|
| 79 | 81 | | that the members of the task force consider necessary to perform |
|---|
| 80 | 82 | | their duties. |
|---|
| 81 | 83 | | (o) A member of the task force may participate remotely in a |
|---|
| 82 | 84 | | meeting of the task force by means of a video conference call or |
|---|
| 83 | 85 | | online service. |
|---|
| 84 | 86 | | (p) This section expires December 31, 2026. |
|---|
| 85 | 87 | | SECTION 2. Not later than October 1, 2025, the governor |
|---|
| 86 | 88 | | shall appoint the members of the task force on pollinator health |
|---|
| 87 | 89 | | under Section 131.011(b), Agriculture Code, as added by this Act. |
|---|
| 88 | 90 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|---|
| 89 | 91 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|---|
| 90 | 92 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|---|
| 91 | 93 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|---|
| 92 | 94 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |
|---|