84R10371 BEF-D
	By: González	H.B. No. 3983

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the Global Agricultural Initiative Institute program
	administered by the Department of Agriculture.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Title 3, Agriculture Code, is amended by adding
	Chapter 50E to read as follows:
	CHAPTER 50E. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE INSTITUTE
	SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
	Sec. 50E.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
	(1)  "Council" means the Global Agricultural
	Initiative Institute Council.
	(2)  "Program" means the Global Agricultural
	Initiative Institute program.
	Sec. 50E.002.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSIONER AND
	DEPARTMENT. (a) The department shall administer this chapter and
	may adopt rules necessary to implement this chapter.
	(b)  The commissioner may appoint or employ consultants or
	other agents as necessary for the business of the program.
	(c)  The department may contract with any state institution
	of higher education, state agency, domestic or foreign person, or
	federal agency to perform services or provide facilities for the
	council.
	Sec. 50E.003.  AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS. Notwithstanding any
	other provision of this chapter, the department is not required to
	award grants or otherwise implement this chapter and the
	commissioner is not required to appoint council members unless the
	department is appropriated money or accepts a gift, grant, or
	donation for the purpose of implementing this chapter.
	SUBCHAPTER B. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE INSTITUTE PROGRAM
	Sec. 50E.051.  PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. The department may
	establish the program to enhance and create developing
	technologies, recruit businesses to this state, and enhance and
	create markets to advance and promote the sale of Texas
	agricultural products and services worldwide.
	Sec. 50E.052.  AWARD OF GRANTS. The department may award
	grants to further the purposes of the program. The use of grant
	money is restricted by the terms of the grant.
	Sec. 50E.053.  PROGRAM ACCOUNT. (a) The Global
	Agricultural Initiative Institute account is an account in the
	general revenue fund. The account is composed of:
	(1)  legislative appropriations;
	(2)  gifts, grants, and donations received under
	Section 50E.054; and
	(3)  other money required by law to be deposited in the
	account.
	(b)  Money in the account may be appropriated only to the
	department for the purpose of the program.
	(c)  Income from money in the account shall be credited to
	the account.
	(d)  The account is exempt from the application of Section
	403.095, Government Code.
	(e)  The department may transfer to the account money from
	another account or fund administered by the department to the
	extent that money may be used for the purposes of this chapter.
	(f)  To the extent provided by legislative appropriation,
	the department may carry forward money in the account from the first
	fiscal year of a biennium to the second year and may carry forward
	the unexpended balance of the account from one fiscal biennium to
	the next.
	Sec. 50E.054.  GIFTS, GRANTS, AND DONATIONS. The council
	and the department may solicit, accept, and use gifts, grants, and
	donations from public and private sources for the purposes of this
	chapter, subject only to limitations contained in the gifts,
	grants, or donations.
	SUBCHAPTER C. GLOBAL AGRICULTURAL INITIATIVE INSTITUTE COUNCIL
	Sec. 50E.101.  MEMBERSHIP AND TERMS. (a) The council is
	composed of:
	(1)  the commissioner or the commissioner's designee,
	who is the chair of the council; and
	(2)  one representative of each of the following,
	appointed by the commissioner:
	(A)  Texas A&M University;
	(B)  The University of Texas at Austin;
	(C)  Texas Tech University;
	(D)  the agriculture marketing industry;
	(E)  international agricultural financing
	businesses;
	(F)  the livestock industry in this state;
	(G)  the crop production industry in this state;
	(H)  international trade; and
	(I)  humanitarian interests.
	(b)  Members appointed under Subsection (a)(2) serve
	staggered six-year terms, with as near as possible to one-third of
	the members' terms expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered
	year.
	(c)  Membership on the council by a state officer or employee
	is an additional duty of the officer's or employee's employment.
	Sec. 50E.102.  DUTIES OF COUNCIL. (a) The council shall
	advise the department in the administration of the program.
	(b)  The council shall select the recipients of any grants
	awarded under the program.
	(c)  The council may conduct surveys, research, or
	investigations for the purposes of the program.
	Sec. 50E.103.  MEETINGS. The council shall meet at least
	once each year at the call of the chair.
	Sec. 50E.104.  EXPENSES. A member of the council is not
	entitled to compensation for service on the council or
	reimbursement for travel expenses incurred by the member while
	conducting council business.
	Sec. 50E.105.  STAFF AND RESOURCES. The commissioner shall
	provide the council with necessary staff and resources to perform
	the council's duties under this chapter, as determined by the
	commissioner.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.