HBA-ALS C.S.H.B. 672 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 672
By: Wise
Agriculture & Livestock
4/23/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

C.S.H.B. 672 requires the Texas Department of Agriculture to study the
effects of urban encroachment on agricultural land in this state and report
those findings to the legislature by January 1, 2001.  This bill requires
the department to appoint an advisory committee to assist in this review
and evaluation, and obtain information or recommendations from interested
persons. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 12, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 12.038,
as follows: 

Sec.  12.038.  INTERIM STUDY OF EFFECTS OF URBAN ENCROACHMENT ON
AGRICULTURE LAND.  (a)  Requires the Department of Agriculture (department)
to review and evaluate urban encroachment on agricultural land in this
state and to report its findings to the legislature no later than January
1, 2001.  Requires the department to examine in its review and evaluation
the extent to which this state's agricultural land  has been lost or is
threatened by urban sprawl and development; the substance and effectiveness
of  farming incentive efforts by the department or other state agencies;
improvements to current department efforts or changes to state law that
could reduce the loss of agricultural land; and efforts and resources
necessary to effectively maintain farming in this state. 

(b)  Requires the department to appoint an advisory committee that assists
with the review and evaluation and obtains information or recommendations
from interested parties. Authorizes the advisory committee to include any
person, including representatives of agriculture producers, agricultural
organizations, consumers, conservation organizations, property developers,
or universities, whom the department believes could contribute to the
review and evaluation.   

(c)  Provides that this section expires on January 1, 2001.

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause. 
                       Effective date: upon passage.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute modifies the original in the caption to make a conforming
change. 

The substitute modifies the original in SECTION 1 (proposed Section 12.038,
Agriculture Code) by modifying the proposed title to read "Interim Study of
Effects of Urban Encroachment on Agricultural Land."  Deletes "Farmland
Preservation" from the title of the original. 

The substitute modifies the original SECTION 1 (proposed Section 12.038,
Agriculture Code) by requiring the Department of Agriculture (department)
to review and evaluate urban encroachment  on agriculture land in this
state, rather than the status of farmland preservation, and to report its
findings to the legislature no later than January 1, 2001.  Requires the
department to examine in its review and evaluation the extent to which this
state's agricultural land, rather than farmland,  has been lost or is
threatened by urban sprawl and development; the substance and effectiveness
of farming incentive efforts, rather than farmland preservation efforts, by
the department or other state agencies; improvements to current department
efforts or changes to state law that could reduce the loss of agricultural
land, rather than farmland; and efforts and resources necessary to
effectively maintain farming in this state, rather than to improve farmland
preservation.