TITLE 4.AGRICULTURE

Part 1. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Chapter 1. GENERAL PROCEDURES

The Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) proposes 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. The amendments to Subchapter C are proposed 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 proposed to add advisory committees that have been established since Subchapter E was last revised. 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.

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Deputy General Counsel, has determined that for the first five years the amendments and new sections are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended and new sections. There is no anticipated fiscal implication for local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended and new sections.

Ms. Hibbs also has determined that for each year of the first five years the amended and new sections are in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the amended and new sections will be to provide interested members of the public with accurate information regarding the department's minority purchasing policies and the department's advisory committees. For the first five-year period the amended and new sections are in effect, there will be no economic cost for micro-businesses, small businesses or individuals who are required to comply with the sections as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Dolores Alvarado Hibbs, Deputy General Counsel, Texas Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 12847, Austin, Texas 78749. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

Subchapter C. MINORITY PURCHASING

4 TAC §§1.73 - 1.75, 1.78

The amendments to §§1.73 - 1.75 and §1.78 are proposed 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 §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.

§1.73.Identification of Minority and Female-owned Businesses and HUBs.

(a) The department will obtain the Texas Historically Underutilized Business Certification Directory from the Texas Building and Procurement Commission [ General Services Commission ] to identify minority and female-owned businesses certified as HUBs in the state.

(b) The department will use the directory to solicit bids from such businesses on all contract and open market purchases for which it has jurisdiction to contract pursuant to the Texas Government Code, Chapter 2155 [ State Purchasing and General Services Act, Texas Civil Statutes, Article 60lb ].

§1.74.Certification Requirements.

(a) All minority and female-owned businesses and HUBs must be certified under the historically underutilized business program of the Texas Buildings and Procurement Commission [ General Services Commission ] to be eligible to participate in contract and open market purchases of the department.

(b) (No change.)

§1.75.Outreach.

(a) The department will attend forums sponsored by the Texas Building and Procurement Commission [ General Services Commission ] relating to minority and female-owned businesses and HUBs to improve its efforts in soliciting these businesses for bidding on department contracts.

(b) (No change.)

§1.78.Historically Underutilized Business Program.

[ (a) ] The department adopts by reference the rules of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission [ Texas General Services Commission ] in 1 Texas Administrative Code §§111.11 - 111.28 [ §§111.11 - 111.23 ], concerning Historically Underutilized Business Certification Program[ , effective October 4, 1995 ].

[(b) The adoption of this rule is required by the General Appropriations Act, House Bill 1, 74th Legislature, 1995.]

[ (c) ] Copies of the Texas Building and Procurement Commission [ General Services Commission ] rules are filed at the department, located at the Stephen F. Austin State Office Building, 1700 North Congress Avenue , Austin, Texas .

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 April 9, 2004.

TRD-200402407

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 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 proposed 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.

The code affected by the proposal is the Texas Government Code, Chapter 2110 and the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 12.

§1.207.Wine Marketing Assistance Program Advisory Committee.

(a) Purpose. The Wine Marketing Assistance Program Advisory Committee is created pursuant to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code, §110.002 and is established in the Texas Department of Agriculture (department) to assist the Texas wine industry in promoting and marketing Texas wines and educating the public about the Texas wine industry.

(b) Duties. The Committee is composed of representatives of Texas wineries, Texas wine wholesalers, Texas package stores, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, and the department; the Committee shall assist the commissioner in establishing and implementing the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program and may advise the department on the adoption of rules relating to the administration of the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program.

(c) Duration. The Committee shall remain in existence so long as the Wine Marketing Assistance Program is in existence within the department. The Committee shall meet as necessary to provide guidance to the commissioner in establishing and implementing the program.

§1.208.Shrimp Marketing Assistance Program Advisory Committee.

(a) Purpose. The Shrimp Marketing Assistance Program Advisory Committee is created pursuant to the Texas Agriculture Code, §47.053, and is established in the Texas Department of Agriculture (the department) to assist to assist the commissioner in implementing the Texas Shrimp Marketing Assistance Program in promoting and marketing Texas-produced shrimp and educating the public about the Texas shrimp industry and Texas-produced shrimp.

(b) Duties. The Committee is composed of representatives of commercial bay shrimp boats, commercial gulf shrimp boats, Texas shrimp aquaculture, fish retailers, fish wholesalers, higher education with expertise in food science, the seafood restaurant industry, and the public; the Committee shall advise the commissioner on adopting rules as necessary to implement the program, and the Committee shall advise the commissioner in implementing the program and in the expenditure of funds appropriated for the program.

(c) Duration. The Committee shall remain in existence so long as the Shrimp Marketing Assistance Program is in existence within the department. The Committee shall meet as necessary, but not less frequently that once each calendar year.

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 April 9, 2004.

TRD-200402408

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 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) proposes amendments to §19.23 restrictions to the Texas Burrowing Nematode Quarantine. The amendments are purposed to modify and clarify existing language. The department is the regulating agency in administration of the quarantine and is charged with administering and enforcing the quarantine. The purposed amendments to §19.23 change the terminology and requirements plants, propagative plants parts, and growing media must meet to enter Texas from Hawaii, Florida, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

David Kostroun, assistant commissioner for regulatory programs, has determined that for the first five years the amendments are in effect, there will be no fiscal implications for state government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended section. There is no anticipated fiscal implication for local government as a result of enforcing or administering the amended section.

Mr. Kostroun also has determined that for each year of the first five years the amended section is in effect the public benefit anticipated as a result of enforcing the amended section will be a supply of burrowing nematode free plants, plant parts and growing media from areas regulated by the quarantine. For the first five year period the amended section is in effect, there will be no economic cost for micro businesses, small businesses or individuals who are required to comply with the section as proposed.

Comments on the proposal may be submitted to Mike Huddleston, Coordinator for Nematology Programs, Texas Department of Agriculture, 241 East McNeil, Stephenville, Texas 76401. Comments must be received no later than 30 days from the date of publication of the proposal in the Texas Register .

The amendments to §19.23 are proposed 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.

The code affected by the proposal is the Texas Agriculture Code, Chapter 71, Subchapter A.

§19.23.Restrictions.

(a) General. Plants, plant parts for propagation and growing media [ Quarantined articles ] originating from quarantined areas are prohibited entry into or through Texas, except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.

(b) Exemptions. Plants produced from seed, planted and grown in sterile media or other suitable material determined by laboratory assay to be free of plant parasitic nematodes [ or propagating plant parts determined to be free from Burrowing Nematode and have been grown above ground in sterilized soil or other suitable material prepared or treated ] and protected from nematode infestation until shipped are exempt from the provisions of this subchapter.

(c) Exceptions. Shipments from quarantined areas may enter Texas if each package or bundle is accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate [ special tag ] issued by an authorized representative of the state or commonwealth of origin that:

(1) specifies the state or commonwealth of origin; and

(2) certifies that the quarantine plants, propagative plant parts and growing media have been sampled and determined by laboratory assay to be free of burrowing nematode not more than two months prior to shipment and protected from nematode infestation until shipped. A laboratory analysis report should accompany the shipment. Co-mingling of plant material from any other origin or source is prohibited unless the plant roots and growing media have been sampled and determined by laboratory assay to the free of burrowing nematode [ articles came from a nursery which has been inspected within the preceding year and found to be free from the Burrowing Nematode ].

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 April 8, 2004.

TRD-200402398

Dolores Alvarado Hibbs

Deputy General Counsel

Texas Department of Agriculture

Earliest possible date of adoption: May 23, 2004

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