89R3862 PRL-D
By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 1781
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and
Continuation Grant Program.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended
by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 452. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND CONTINUATION
GRANT PROGRAM
Sec. 452.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Board" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo
Education and Continuation Board established under Section
452.003.
(2) "Fund" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo
Education and Continuation Fund established under Section 452.002.
(3) "Grant program" means the Texas Livestock and
Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program established under
Section 452.006.
Sec. 452.002. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND
CONTINUATION FUND; COMPTROLLER DUTIES. (a) The Texas Livestock and
Rodeo Education and Continuation Fund is established outside the
state treasury and is held in trust by the comptroller for
administration of this chapter.
(b) The fund consists of:
(1) money appropriated, credited, or transferred to
the fund by the legislature;
(2) gifts or grants contributed to the fund; and
(3) interest earned on the deposits and investments of
the fund.
(c) The fund may be used only to implement the grant program
established under Section 452.006, including the costs of grant
program administration and operation.
(d) The comptroller at the direction of the board may
disburse money from the fund without appropriation only as provided
by this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.
(e) The comptroller in consultation with the board may adopt
rules necessary to implement this chapter.
Sec. 452.003. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND
CONTINUATION BOARD. (a) The Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education
and Continuation Board consists of seven members appointed by the
governor.
(b) In appointing members to the board, the governor shall
ensure each member has demonstrated interest in issues related to
rodeos and county fairs in this state through:
(1) competing in rodeos; or
(2) previous service:
(A) on a board of a rodeo organization, county
fair organization, 4-H program, or Future Farmers of America
organization; or
(B) with an organization or program described by
Paragraph (A) in the preceding 15 years.
(c) The board must include at least:
(1) two members with rodeo experience; and
(2) two members with county fair experience.
(d) Each board member the governor appoints must represent a
different region of this state.
(e) A board member may not hold any other public office.
(f) A board member serves without compensation but is
entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending
board meetings and in performing board duties.
(g) If a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall
appoint a member to fill the vacancy. A member appointed to fill a
vacancy on the board shall serve the remainder of the unexpired
term.
(h) The board shall meet quarterly.
Sec. 452.004. BOARD MEMBER TERMS. Board members serve
staggered six-year terms with the terms of two or three members
expiring on January 1 of each even-numbered year. A board member may
not serve more than two terms.
Sec. 452.005. BOARD PRESIDING OFFICER AND ASSISTANT
PRESIDING OFFICER. (a) The governor shall select from among the
board members a presiding officer for the board who serves at the
pleasure of the governor.
(b) The board members shall elect an assistant presiding
officer from among the board members who serves at the pleasure of
the board.
(c) The presiding officer and assistant presiding officer
serve two-year terms.
Sec. 452.006. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND
CONTINUATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The board shall establish and
administer the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation
Grant Program to award money from the fund to county fairs and local
rodeos for the purposes of assisting with:
(1) facility and infrastructure maintenance or
construction;
(2) event programs;
(3) personnel salaries; and
(4) public health and safety.
(b) To be eligible for a grant award under the grant
program, an applicant must:
(1) apply in the manner the board prescribes;
(2) be in good standing under the laws of this state;
(3) specify the manner the grant money would benefit
county livestock programs or local youth agricultural programs
within the county; and
(4) demonstrate a legitimate need for the grant money
that provides a public benefit to this state in accordance with
board rules.
(c) The board may only award a grant in accordance with a
contract between the board and a grant recipient that includes
conditions providing the board with sufficient control to ensure
the public purpose of continuing to promote and improve this
state's livestock and agricultural programs and to educate the
public regarding those programs is accomplished and this state
receives a return benefit.
(d) Each local rodeo or county fair applicant awarded a
grant under the grant program shall submit:
(1) for a rodeo or county fair with an operating budget
greater than $10 million, a report on the economic impact
attributable to the preparation for and presentation of the rodeo
or fair in the area served by the rodeo or fair; or
(2) for a rodeo or county fair with an operating budget
less than $10 million, a report demonstrating the economic
development needs of the community.
(e) The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement
this section.
Sec. 452.007. PERSONNEL. The board shall employ the
officers and employees necessary to administer this chapter.
Sec. 452.008. BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of
each even-numbered year, the board shall prepare and submit to the
governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the
legislature a report that includes:
(1) the fund balance as of the date of the report;
(2) the total amount of grant money awarded under and
other disbursements from the fund during the two preceding state
fiscal years;
(3) the number of grant applications submitted to the
board during the two preceding state fiscal years; and
(4) the economic impact reports and community need
reports submitted to the board during the two preceding state
fiscal years.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2026, the governor
shall appoint members to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education
and Continuation Board and select a presiding officer from among
the members of the board as required by Chapter 452, Government
Code, as added by this Act.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 452.004, Government Code, as
added by this Act, in making the initial appointments to the Texas
Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board under
Subsection (a) of this section, the governor shall designate two
members to serve terms expiring January 1, 2028, two members to
serve terms expiring January 1, 2030, and three members to serve
terms expiring January 1, 2032.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable following the effective
date of this Act, the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and
Continuation Board shall adopt the rules necessary to administer
the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant
Program established under Section 452.006, Government Code, as
added by this Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.