Bill Text: TX HB2669 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the creation of an advisory committee to study urban farming.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-05 - Withdrawn from schedule [HB2669 Detail]
Download: Texas-2011-HB2669-Introduced.html
82R11336 JXC-D | ||
By: Miles | H.B. No. 2669 |
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relating to the creation of an advisory committee to study urban | ||
farming. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: | ||
(1) "Community garden" means land gardened by a | ||
cooperative group of people residing in a neighborhood or community | ||
for the purpose of providing fresh produce for the benefit of the | ||
residents of the neighborhood or community. | ||
(2) "Urban farm" means land used to cultivate, | ||
process, and distribute food in or near an urban area. The term | ||
includes a food plot in a community garden, on an inner-city lot, or | ||
on the property of a school, a fish farm, a municipal composting | ||
facility, an apiary, a garden that provides food for local | ||
restaurants, or an orchard in the yard of a residence. | ||
SECTION 2. URBAN FARM ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The | ||
commissioner of agriculture shall establish an advisory committee | ||
to study and provide recommendations to the legislature regarding | ||
urban farms in this state. | ||
(b) The advisory committee consists of eight members | ||
appointed by the commissioner of agriculture. | ||
(c) In appointing members of the advisory committee, the | ||
commissioner of agriculture shall appoint as a member at least one | ||
person with expertise in property taxation and ensure that the | ||
members represent the interests of: | ||
(1) urban farmers and operators of community gardens; | ||
(2) municipalities; | ||
(3) counties; and | ||
(4) electric and water utilities. | ||
(d) An advisory committee member is not entitled to | ||
reimbursement of expenses or to compensation. | ||
(e) The advisory committee shall meet not later than the | ||
30th day after the date the initial appointments are made and shall | ||
select a presiding officer. The committee shall meet regularly as | ||
necessary at the call of the presiding officer. | ||
(f) The advisory committee shall: | ||
(1) investigate the status of urban farms in this | ||
state; | ||
(2) recommend: | ||
(A) ways the state can assist individuals in | ||
starting and operating urban farms; and | ||
(B) ways to reduce the cost of operating an urban | ||
farm in this state, including, if appropriate, the provision of a | ||
property tax credit or exemption for urban farmers; and | ||
(3) perform other advisory duties as requested by the | ||
commissioner of agriculture regarding urban farms in this state. | ||
(g) Not later than September 1, 2012, the advisory committee | ||
shall submit to the legislature a report outlining: | ||
(1) the results of the investigation required by | ||
Subsection (f)(1) of this section; and | ||
(2) the recommendations required by Subsection (f)(2) | ||
of this section. | ||
SECTION 3. INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN LAW. Chapter 2110, | ||
Government Code, does not apply to the advisory committee | ||
established under this Act. | ||
SECTION 4. EXPIRATION. The advisory committee established | ||
under this Act is abolished and this Act expires September 1, 2013. | ||
SECTION 5. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Act takes effect | ||
immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members | ||
elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas | ||
Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for | ||
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |