HBA-LJP, SEP H.B. 681 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 681
By: Hawley
Land & Resource Management
2/26/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, the Texas Department of Agriculture (department) is
required to encourage the development of agriculture, horticulture, and
related industries while the Texas Agriculture Finance Authority, an agency
within the department, is authorized to design and implement programs to
further rural economic development.  However, the law does not specifically
authorize or require the department to implement a rural economic
development program.  House Bill 681 provides the department the specific
statutory authority to implement broad-based rural economic development
programs. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly delegated to the Department of Agriculture in
SECTION 2 (Section 12.027, Agriculture Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 681 amends the Agriculture Code to require the Department of
Agriculture (department) to administer and maintain an economic development
program for rural areas.  The bill sets forth procedures required of the
department in its administration of the program, including the requirement
that it enter into a memorandum of agreement before December 1, 2001 to
work cooperatively with the Texas Department of Economic Development, the
Texas Agricultural Extension Service, and other entities the department
deems appropriate to further program objectives. 

The department is required to adopt rules for the administration of the
economic development program before December 1, 2001. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.