TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Chapter 17. MARKETING AND PROMOTION DIVISION

Subchapter C. TAP, TASTE OF TEXAS, VINTAGE TEXAS, TEXAS GROWN, NATURALLY TEXAS, AND GO TEXAN AND DESIGN MARKS

4 TAC §17.51

The Texas Department of Agriculture proposes an amendment to §17.51, concerning use of the GO TEXAN and Design Mark.

The amendment is proposed in order to clarify that fresh meat products are allowed to use the GO TEXAN and Design mark as part of the GO TEXAN promotional marketing program. The proposed amendment to §17.51 deletes the phrase "excluding fresh meats" from the definition of food and provides that 100% fresh beef and processed 100% beef products must comply with the requirements of the GO TEXAN Beef Program as set forth in §17.58.

Ulrike Lapham, funding coordinator for marketing and promotion, has determined that for the five-year period the amendment is in effect there will be no fiscal implications for the state or for units of local government as a result of enforcing or administering the section. There is no anticipated impact on small businesses, micro businesses or local or state employment as a result of enforcing or implementing the section as amended.

Ms. Lapham has also determined that for each year of the first five years the section as proposed is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the section will be clarification of the eligibility requirements for fresh meat products participating in the GO TEXAN promotional marketing program. There is no economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposed section.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Ulrike Lapham, Funding Coordinator for Marketing and Promotion, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas, 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The amendment is proposed under the authority of §12.016 of the Texas Agriculture Code, which provides that the department shall adopt rules to administer the Texas Agriculture Code.

The proposed amendment affects the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 12 and 46.

§17.51. Definitions.

The following words and terms, when used in these sections, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

(1) - (3)

(No change.)

(4)

Food - Agricultural products [ , excluding fresh meats, ] produced or processed in Texas for human consumption. One hundred percent fresh beef and processed 100% beef products must comply with the requirements of §17.58 of this title (relating to GO TEXAN Beef Program).

(5) - (21)

(No change.)

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on May 8, 2000.

TRD-200003215

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 18, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter F. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

4 TAC §17.200

(Editor's note: The text of the following section proposed for repeal will not be published. The section may be examined in the offices of the Texas Department of Agriculture or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the Department) proposes the repeal of §17.200, concerning an expiration date for Chapter 17, relating to Marketing and Promotion Division.

The repeal of §17.200 is proposed because the establishment of an expiration date for Chapter 17 is no longer necessary due to the enactment of legislation establishing a timeframe for review of agency rules. The repeal of §17.200 eliminates the expiration date for Chapter 17.

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, deputy general counsel, has determined that for the first five-year period the repeal is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal.

Ms. Hibbs also has determined that for each year of the first five years the repeal is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the repeal will be the elimination of unnecessary rules. There be no effect on micro-businesses or small businesses and to persons who are required to comply with the repeal as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Texas Department of Agriculture, P. O. Box 12847, and Austin, Texas 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The repeal is proposed under the Texas Agriculture Code, §12.016, which provides the Department with the authority to adopt rules to administer the Texas Agriculture Code.

The code that will be affected by the proposal is the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 12.

§17.200. Expiration Provision.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on May 8, 2000.

TRD-200003216

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 18, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Subchapter G. GO TEXAN PARTNER PROGRAM RULES

4 TAC §§17.304, 17.306, 17.308

The Texas Department of Agriculture proposes amendments to §§17.304, 17.306, and 17.308, concerning the GO TEXAN Partner Program.

The amendments are proposed in order to clarify the requirements for matching funds and in-kind contributions. The proposed amendments to §17.304 and §17.306 provide that the matching funds shall be those as specified in the grant contract, rather than as proposed in the project request. The proposed amendments to §17.306 also provide that in-kind matching contributions may be contributed by the grantee or a third party and that travel expenses approved by the board are deemed to be in-kind contributions, and set out the procedures for documenting in-kind contributions. In addition to the referenced proposed changes in language, §17.306 has also been reformatted for purposes of clarity and new subsection (g) designated, relating to in-kind contributions. The proposed amendments to §17.308(f) and (g) provide that the grant funds are those specified in the contract, not the project request, and the proposed amendment to §17.308(g) clarifies that returned funds are refunded as opposed to reimbursed.

Ulrike Lapham, funding coordinator for marketing and promotion, has determined that for the five-year period the amendments are in effect there will be no fiscal implications for the state or for units of local government as a result of enforcing or administering the sections. There is no anticipated impact on small businesses, micro businesses or local or state employment as a result of implementing these sections.

Ms. Lapham has also determined that for each year of the first five years the sections as proposed are in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the sections will be clarification of the application procedures for the GO TEXAN Partner Program, and clarification of the procedures and requirements regarding in-kind contributions and refunds of unused grant funds. There is no economic cost to persons who are required to comply with the proposed sections.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Ulrike Lapham, Funding Coordinator for Marketing and Promotion, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas, 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register

The amendments are proposed under the authority of §46.012 of the Texas Agriculture Code, which provides that the department shall adopt rules to administer Chapter 46 of the Code.

The proposed amendments affect the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 46.

§17.304. Requirements for Participation.

To be eligible for participation in the program through the use of matching funds under this subchapter, an applicant must:

(1) - (4)

(No change.)

(5)

submit to the department, within ten business days after receiving a request for funds from the department, cash matching funds as specified in the grant performance contract [ project request ] and in accordance with this subchapter.

§17.306. Filing Requirements and Consideration of Project Requests.

(a) - (e)

(No change.)

(f)

Deposit of matching funds. Matching funds for board approved and contracted projects [ project requests ] shall be deposited with the department within ten business days after receiving a request for funds from the department. For purposes of this subchapter, "matching" means a dollar-per-dollar amount.

(g)

In-kind contributions.

(1)

The Department may accept in-kind contributions with a documented, clear monetary value from program applicants to satisfy the matching funds requirement. In-kind contributions may be contributed by the applicant or a third party.

(2)

For purposes of this subchapter, the board shall have sole discretion to approve the use of in-kind contributions, in an amount not to exceed 10% of the total approved and contracted project [ request ] amount , to satisfy the matching funds requirement. Travel expenses approved by the board are deemed to have board approval for treatment solely as in-kind contributions unless specifically stated otherwise.

(3)

The successful applicant, or grantee, must provide satisfactory documentation to the department of the actual expenditure or utilization of any approved in-kind contributions by the grantee prior to the release or expenditure by the department of the corresponding GO TEXAN Program matching grant funds. The documentation provided by the grantee must establish the clear monetary value of the in-kind contribution.

(4)

Should the grantee fail to provide satisfactory documentation of the in-kind contribution, or should the actual monetary value of the in-kind contribution as established by the documentation fail to equal the projected or anticipated value, the corresponding GO TEXAN Program matching grant funds will be forfeited by the grantee and will revert back to the general GO TEXAN Partner Program Account.

(5)

In the event the actual value of the in-kind contribution exceeds the projected or anticipated value, the GO TEXAN Program matching grant funds shall not be increased, but the excess shall be deemed outside the GO TEXAN program and shall be the sole responsibility of the grantee.

§17.308. Use of Funds.

(a) - (e)

(No change.)

(f)

85% of all funds for each approved and contracted project [ request ] shall be expended to promote the specific product(s) of applicants and 15% of all funds for each approved and contracted project [ request ] shall be expended on the department's GO TEXAN Program. If feasible and practical, the 15% portion of funds for each individual project request will be expended in a manner that directly or indirectly promotes the specific product(s) of applicant.

(g)

Upon the completion or cancellation of a project, the department will [ reimburse a ] refund to the successful applicant [ for ] the applicant's share of any unexpended funds approved and contracted for the project.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on May 8, 2000.

TRD-200003217

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 18, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075


Chapter 29. TEXAS AGRICULTURAL DIVERSIFICATION PROGRAM: MATCHING GRANTS

4 TAC §§29.1, 29.2, 29.4 - 29.9, 29.11 - 29.13

(Editor's note: The text of the following sections proposed for repeal will not be published. The sections may be examined in the offices of the Texas Department of Agriculture or in the Texas Register office, Room 245, James Earl Rudder Building, 1019 Brazos Street, Austin.)

The Texas Agricultural Finance Authority (Authority) of the Texas Department of Agriculture proposes the repeal of §§29.1, 29.2, 29.4 - 29.9, and 29.11 - 29.13 (Chapter 29), concerning the Authority's Texas Agricultural Diversification Matching Grants Program. The repeal of Chapter 29 is proposed because the statutory authority establishing the matching grants program has been repealed. The proposed repeal of Chapter 29 eliminates the Texas Agricultural Diversification Matching Grants Program rules.

Robert Kennedy, deputy assistant commissioner for finance, has determined that for the first five-year period the repeal of Chapter 29 is in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state or local government as a result of enforcing or administering the repeal.

Mr. Kennedy also has determined that for each year of the first five years the repeal is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the repeal will be the elimination of unnecessary rules. There be no effect on micro- businesses or small businesses and to persons who are required to comply with the repeal as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Robert Kennedy, Texas Department of Agriculture, Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Finance, P. O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78711. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The repeal is proposed under the Texas Agriculture Code, §58.023 which provides the Authority with the authority to adopt rules to administer programs established by the Authority board.

The code that will be affected by the proposal is the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapters 44 and 58.

§29.1.Purpose.

§29.2.Definitions.

§29.4.Criteria for All Grants.

§29.5.Money for Grants.

§29.6.Research and Innovation Grant.

§29.7.Business Assistance Grant.

§29.8.Small Business Incubator Grant.

§29.9.Grant Awards Process.

§29.11.Format for Proposal.

§29.12.Deadline for Submission.

§29.13.Other Information.

This agency hereby certifies that the proposal has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be within the agency's legal authority to adopt.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State, on May 5, 2000.

TRD-200003172

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: June 18, 2000

For further information, please call: (512) 463-4075