H.B. No. 2997

	AN ACT
	relating to the creation and funding of the urban farming pilot
	program and the creation of the Select Committee on Urban Farming.
	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. URBAN FARMING PILOT PROGRAM AND SELECT COMMITTEE
	SUBCHAPTER A. URBAN FARMING PILOT PROGRAM
	Sec. 50E.001.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "program" means
	the urban farming pilot program established under this chapter.
	Sec. 50E.002.  ESTABLISHMENT OF URBAN FARMING PILOT PROGRAM.
	(a) The department by rule shall develop and implement an urban
	farming pilot program through which the department will award
	grants if funding for grants is available to urban farmers in this
	state to establish new urban farms and expand existing urban farms.
	(b)  The department by rule shall define "urban farm" and
	"urban farmer" for purposes of this chapter.
	(c)  The department may operate the program in an area
	designated as an enterprise zone under Chapter 2303, Government
	Code, in a municipality with a population of 500,000 or more.
	Sec. 50E.003.  USE OF AWARDED GRANT MONEY. A grant recipient
	may use grant money awarded under the program only to cover costs
	that are approved by the department.
	Sec. 50E.004.  GRANT RECIPIENT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. A
	grant recipient shall report information related to the program to
	the department in the form and manner and at regular intervals as
	prescribed by the department.
	Sec. 50E.005.  EVALUATION BY DEPARTMENT. The department
	shall monitor and periodically evaluate:
	(1)  the performance of each grant recipient under the
	program;
	(2)  how each grant recipient uses the grant money
	awarded under the program; and
	(3)  the effect of the program on the grant recipient
	and on the residents of the municipality in which the grant
	recipient uses grant money.
	Sec. 50E.006.  FUNDING. (a)  The department may seek,
	accept, and spend any funds received through grants or donations
	from public or private sources for the purposes of the program.
	(b)  The department is not required to implement the program
	unless the department has sufficient funding from a source other
	than an appropriation of general revenue.
	(c)  State money may not be used for purposes of the program.
	[Sections 50E.007-50E.010 reserved for expansion]
	SUBCHAPTER B. SELECT COMMITTEE ON URBAN FARMING
	Sec. 50E.011.  DEFINITION. In this chapter, "committee"
	means the Select Committee on Urban Farming.
	Sec. 50E.012.  COMPOSITION. (a) The Select Committee on
	Urban Farming is composed of:
	(1)  three members appointed by the president of
	Prairie View A&M University;
	(2)  three members appointed by the board of regents of
	The Texas A&M University System; and
	(3)  three members appointed by the director of the
	Texas AgriLife Extension Service.
	(b)  The committee shall elect a presiding officer from among
	its members.
	Sec. 50E.013.  COMPENSATION. A person is not entitled to
	compensation or reimbursement for serving as a committee member.
	Sec. 50E.014.  COMMITTEE DUTIES. (a) The committee shall:
	(1)  meet at the call of the presiding officer; and
	(2)  conduct an interim study and make recommendations
	to the legislature regarding:
	(A)  the performance and operation of the program;
	(B)  the continuation, elimination, or expansion
	of the program;
	(C)  urban farming trends, including farming in
	sustainable living communities, cooperative crop production, and
	vertical integration farming;
	(D)  capacity for urban farming in this state; and
	(E)  potential effects of urban farming on the
	population of this state and on enterprise zones.
	(b)  The committee may request the assistance of state
	agencies, departments, or offices to carry out its duties.
	Sec. 50E.015.  REPORT. Not later than December 1, 2012, the
	committee shall submit a report based on its findings to:
	(1)  the governor;
	(2)  the lieutenant governor; and
	(3)  the speaker of the house of representatives.
	[Sections 50E.016-50E.020 reserved for expansion]
	SUBCHAPTER C.  EXPIRATION OF CHAPTER
	Sec. 50E.021.  EXPIRATION.  This chapter expires and the
	committee is abolished September 1, 2013.
	SECTION 2.  (a) Not later than January 1, 2012, the
	Department of Agriculture shall implement the urban farming pilot
	program established under Chapter 50E, Agriculture Code, as added
	by this Act.
	(b)  Not later than October 1, 2011, the appointing entities
	listed in Section 50E.012, Agriculture Code, as added by this Act,
	shall make the appointments required by that section.
	(c)  Not later than October 15, 2011, the commissioner of
	agriculture shall call the first meeting of the Select Committee on
	Urban Farming to permit the committee to elect a presiding officer
	as required by Section 50E.012(b), Agriculture Code, as added by
	this Act.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2997 was passed by the House on May
	11, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 111, Nays 38, 1 present, not
	voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	I certify that H.B. No. 2997 was passed by the Senate on May
	25, 2011, by the following vote:  Yeas 25, Nays 5.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	APPROVED:  _____________________
	Date
	_____________________
	Governor