TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Chapter 1. GENERAL PROCEDURES

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) adopts amendments to Chapter 1, Subchapter C, §§1.73-1.75, and §1.78, concerning Minority Purchasing, and new Chapter 1, Subchapter E, §1.207 and §1.208, concerning advisory committees, without changes to the proposal published in the April 23, 2004, issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 3889). The amendments to Subchapter C are adopted to clarify the sections, and update legal citations and references to the state purchasing agency in the department's minority purchasing rules. The new sections added to Subchapter E are adopted to add advisory committees that have been established since Subchapter E was last revised. In addition, the new sections are adopted to provide interested members of the public with accurate information regarding the department's minority purchasing policies and the department's advisory committees. More specifically, the amendments to §§1.73-1.75, and §1.78 change the term "General Services Commission" to the current name of that agency, the Texas Building and Procurement Commission. In addition, §1.73(b) is amended to correct a legal cite, in §1.78, the effective date of rules referenced at §1.78(a) and all of §1.78(b) are deleted as no longer necessary, and §1.78(c) is amended to clarify where the department's offices are located. New §1.207 adds the Wine Marketing Assistance Program Advisory Committee to the list of the department's advisory committees. New §1.208 adds the Shrimp Marketing Assistance Program Advisory Committee to the list of the department's advisory committees.

No comments were received on the proposal.

Subchapter C. MINORITY PURCHASING

4 TAC §§1.73 - 1.75, 1.78

The amendments to §§1.73-1.75 and §1.78 are adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the code), §12.029, which requires that the department establish by rule policies to encourage minority and female-owned small businesses to bid for contract and open market purchases of the department; and the Texas Government Code, §2161.003, which provides that a state agency shall adopt the rules of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission, under Section 2161.002 as the agency's own rules.

The code affected by the proposal is the Texas Government Code, Chapters 2155 and 2161, and the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 12.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 27, 2004.

TRD-200403593

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: June 16, 2004

Proposal publication date: April 23, 2004

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


Subchapter E. ADVISORY COMMITTEES

4 TAC §1.207, §1.208

New §1.207 and §1.208 are adopted under the Texas Government Code, §2110.005, which requires an agency that establishes an advisory committee to adopt rules to state the purpose and tasks of the committee and manner in which the committee shall report to the agency; §2110.008, which authorizes an agency establishing an advisory committee to designate the duration of a committee; and the Texas Agriculture Code (the code), §12.016, which authorizes the department to adopt rules necessary to carry out its duties under the code.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 27, 2004.

TRD-200403595

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: June 16, 2004

Proposal publication date: April 23, 2004

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


Chapter 19. QUARANTINES

Subchapter B. BURROWING NEMATODE QUARANTINE

4 TAC §19.23

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) adopts amendments to §19.23, concerning restrictions to the Texas Burrowing Nematode Quarantine, without changes to the proposal published in the April 23, 2004 issue of the Texas Register (29 TexReg 3891). The amendments are adopted to modify and clarify existing language. In addition, the amendments will allow for a supply of burrowing nematode free plants, plant parts and growing media from areas regulated by the quarantine. The department is the regulating agency in regard to administration of the quarantine and is charged with administering and enforcing the quarantine. The amendments to §19.23 change the terminology and requirements that plants, propagative plants parts, and growing media must meet to enter Texas from Hawaii, Florida, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

No comments were received on the proposal.

The amendments to §19.23 are adopted under the Texas Agriculture Code (the code), Chapter 71, §71. 007, which provides the department the authority to regulate areas where Burrowing Nematode is known to occur to protect agricultural and horticultural interests within the state.

This agency hereby certifies that the adoption has been reviewed by legal counsel and found to be a valid exercise of the agency's legal authority.

Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State on May 27, 2004.

TRD-200403597

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Effective date: June 16, 2004

Proposal publication date: April 23, 2004

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