HBA-JRA S.B. 1304 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 1304 By: Brown Agriculture & Livestock 4/30/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Aflatoxin is a toxic mold by-product that grows on corn, sorghum, and oilseeds. Aflatoxincontaminated corn may occasionally be sold as deer corn, or wildlife feed, if the aflatoxin contamination levels are too high for the corn to be sold in more closely regulated markets. Birds, including turkey and quail, are particularly susceptible to aflatoxin poisoning and whitetail deer can suffer liver damage over a period of time from contaminated products. S.B. 1304 requires the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service to establish aflatoxin contamination levels considered safe for whole seed and whole grain offered for retail sale for wildlife feed. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service in SECTION 2 (Section 141.007, Agriculture Code) of this bill. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 141.002, Agriculture Code, by adding Subsection (e), as follows: (e) Provides that whole seed and whole grain offered for retail sale for wildlife seed are commercial feeds subject to this chapter (Commercial Feed). SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter A, Chapter 141, Agriculture Code, by adding Section 141.007, as follows: Sec. 141.007. AFLATOXIN CONTROL. Requires the Texas Feed and Fertilizer Control Service to establish, by rule, aflatoxin contamination levels considered safe for whole seed and whole grain offered for retail sale for wildlife feed. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.