AGRICULTURE CODE
CHAPTER 45. TEXAS-ISRAEL EXCHANGE FUND
§ 45.001. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. (a) The
legislature finds that Texas and Israel have many interests in
common. They face many of the same difficulties in agriculture;
the geography of both areas produces semiarid climatic conditions;
there is present in both areas a rising demand for a limited supply
of water coupled with increasing pressures to minimize the use of
energy in all aspects of agriculture. Scientific and technological
cooperatives already produce close ties between the two areas while
engaging in binational projects for scientific and industrial
research and development.
A fund to support joint agricultural research and development
by, and the development of trade and business relations between,
Texas and Israel will address common problems and make substantial
contributions to the development of agriculture, trade, and
business in both areas. Since Texas has long emphasized
broad-based agricultural research and Israel has originated and
developed agricultural technologies designed to maximize
production with minimal use of resources such as water and labor,
each of the two areas will benefit by sharing information and
expertise.
(b) The purpose of this chapter is to:
(1) establish a fund to promote and support practical
and applied agricultural research and development that will result
in mutual benefit to Texas and Israel and will help to provide
solutions to food and fiber production problems wherever they
exist, particularly those relating to water conservation; and
(2) establish a program of mutual cooperation that
will foster the development of trade, mutual assistance, and
business relations between Texas and Israel.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 2, eff. May 18, 1993.
§ 45.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Applied research" means the process of assembling
knowledge gained by careful and diligent search and studious
inquiry and examination and using that knowledge to solve
practical, real-world problems.
(2) "Board" means the Texas-Israel Exchange Fund
Board.
(3) "Fund" means the Texas-Israel Exchange Fund.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 3, eff. May 18, 1993.
§ 45.003. CREATION OF FUND. (a) The Texas-Israel
Exchange Fund is established within the department.
(b) The fund is a fund in the state treasury.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 4, eff. May 18, 1993.
§ 45.004. ADMINISTRATION. (a) The commissioner shall
appoint a director to administer the fund.
(b) The department shall provide the director and the
advisory board with necessary staff, supplies, and office space.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary for the
implementation and administration of this chapter.
(d) The director shall cooperate with the chief
administrator of the corresponding Israel fund to fulfill the
purpose and goals of this chapter.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
§ 45.005. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND
DUTIES. (a) The scope of agricultural research and development
which the fund may promote and support encompasses all scientific
activities related to agriculture, including production,
processing, marketing, and agricultural services, with emphasis on
the support of applied research to improve water, labor, and energy
utilization in agriculture.
(b) The fund shall support applied research in areas of
potential mutual interest, including:
(1) water conservation;
(2) water management and use;
(3) soil management and conservation;
(4) innovative sources of energy for agricultural
production;
(5) environmental aspects of agricultural technology;
(6) intensive crop production; and
(7) agricultural engineering and processing.
(c) The fund may undertake agricultural research and
development projects of mutual benefit that are located in Texas,
Israel, or any other location suggested by the advisory boards.
(d) The fund may make research or development grants or
loans to public or private entities who intend to carry out the
stated objectives of the fund.
(e) The fund shall encourage or support the exchange of
agricultural producers, scientists, teachers, students, or other
types of agricultural experts between the two cooperating areas of
Texas and Israel.
(f) The fund shall encourage and support a program of mutual
cooperation that will foster the development of trade, mutual
assistance, and business relations between Texas and Israel.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989,
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 5, eff. May 18, 1993.
§ 45.006. TEXAS-ISRAEL EXCHANGE FUND BOARD. (a) The
Texas-Israel Exchange Fund Board is created and composed of:
(1) the commissioner of agriculture;
(2) five members appointed by the commissioner;
(3) one member appointed by the executive officer of
The University of Texas System;
(4) one member appointed by the executive officer of
The Texas A&M University System;
(5) one member appointed by the executive officer of
Texas Tech University; and
(6) as nonvoting, ex officio members, the lieutenant
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the
comptroller or their designees.
(b) The commissioner serves as chairman of the board, and
the board shall annually elect whatever other officers the members
consider necessary.
(c) The board shall meet at least annually, and the chairman
may call additional meetings. The board may meet with the
corresponding body established by Israel if a majority of the board
decides that such a joint meeting would help to meet the objectives
of this chapter.
(d) Appointed board members serve for staggered six-year
terms. The terms of approximately one-third of the appointed board
members expire on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
(e) The person who appointed a member who vacates a position
on the board shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the
unexpired term.
(f) Members of the board serve without compensation but are
entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in carrying
out official duties, subject to the approval of the board.
(g) The board shall cooperate closely with the
corresponding body established by Israel so that projects under
consideration or undertaken meet the stated objectives of this
chapter and are not duplicative.
(h) After consultation with the corresponding body in
Israel, the board shall advise or ratify the choice of projects and
programs to be undertaken by the fund, following the purposes
expressed in this chapter. The board shall also suggest priorities
among projects or programs.
(i) The board is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code
(Texas Sunset Act). Unless continued in existence as provided by
that chapter, the board is abolished and this chapter expires
September 1, 2007.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 17, § 2.04, eff.
Nov. 12, 1991; Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 6, 7, eff. May
18, 1993; Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1449, § 3.01, eff. Sept. 1,
1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 52, § 8, eff. May 7, 2001; Acts
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1170, § 44.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.
§ 45.007. FINANCING. (a) The original endowment of
the fund consists of no more than $5 million, mirroring an equal
amount to be contributed by Israel to its corresponding fund.
(b) The board may accept gifts and grants from the federal
government, state government, and private sources, as well as
legislative appropriations. The use of gifts and grants other than
legislative appropriation is subject only to limitations contained
in the gift or grant.
(c) Proceeds of all gifts and grants shall be deposited in
the state treasury to the credit of the fund.
(d) The board shall make an annual accounting of all money
received, awarded, and expended during the year to the legislative
committees responsible for agricultural issues.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
§ 45.008. FINAL DISBURSEMENT OF FUND. (a) If the
objectives of the fund cannot be realized because of lack of
cooperation with the appropriate entities in Israel or if the board
is abolished by the legislature or by operation of Chapter 325,
Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), any asset remaining that was
received by gift or grant from Israel shall be liquidated and a pro
rata share of any money other than revenue deposited in the state
treasury to the credit of the fund shall be returned to Israel.
(b) Any agricultural or intellectual property and all
records and documents of the fund shall be disposed of as the board
determines.
Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 8, eff. May 18, 1993.
