AGRICULTURE CODE
CHAPTER 49. AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM
§ 49.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Agricultural crisis" means an event or condition,
including adverse weather conditions, water shortages, disruption
in transportation, low commodity prices, an animal health issue,
crop disease, or insect infestation, that could disrupt or
jeopardize an aspect of the agricultural industry.
(2) "Agri-tech program" means the agricultural
technology program established under this chapter.
(3) "Applied research" means research directed at
gaining the knowledge or understanding necessary to meet a specific
and recognized need, including the discovery of new scientific
knowledge that has specific objectives relating to products or
processes.
(4) "Eligible institution" means an institution of
higher education, as that term is defined by Section 61.003,
Education Code, that is designated as an eligible institution under
Section 49.002(e).
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1459, § 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.
Renumbered from § 46.001 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, §
21.001(2), 21.002(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 49.002. ADMINISTRATION; GUIDELINES AND
PROCEDURES. (a) The department shall develop, maintain, and
administer the agri-tech program to provide support for eligible
institutions to conduct research projects on methods to address
agricultural crises in this state.
(b) In awarding funds to support projects under this
chapter, the department shall:
(1) give priority to applied research projects that
the commissioner determines to be necessary to address an immediate
agricultural crisis; and
(2) consider the recommendations of the Commodity
Crisis Council for specific projects.
(c) The department shall award funds to support projects as
needed to address agricultural crises in this state.
(d) The department shall develop and maintain guidelines
and procedures to provide awards under this chapter for specific
projects at eligible institutions on a competitive, peer-review
basis.
(e) The department shall determine whether an institution
of higher education qualifies as an eligible institution for the
purposes of this chapter. To be designated as an eligible
institution, an institution of higher education must demonstrate an
exceptional capability to attract federal, state, and private
funding for scientific and technical research and have an
exceptionally strong research staff and the necessary equipment and
facilities.
(f) In considering projects for selection, the commissioner
shall give special consideration to projects that:
(1) leverage funds from other sources; and
(2) propose innovative, collaborative efforts:
(A) across academic disciplines;
(B) involving two or more eligible institutions;
or
(C) involving eligible institutions, private
industry, and the federal government.
(g) The commissioner may adopt rules necessary to
accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1459, § 7, eff. June 19, 1999.
Renumbered from § 46.002 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, §
21.001(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 49.003. AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY ACCOUNT. (a) The
agricultural technology account is an account in the general
revenue fund.
(b) The agricultural technology account consists of
legislative appropriations, gifts and grants received under
Subsection (c), and other money required by law to be deposited in
the account.
(c) The department may solicit and accept gifts in kind and
grants of money from the federal government, local governments,
private corporations, or other persons to be used for the purposes
of this chapter.
(d) Funds in the agricultural technology account may be used
only as provided by this chapter. The account is exempt from the
application of Section 403.095, Government Code.
(e) Income from money in the account shall be credited to
the account.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1459, § 7, eff. June 19, 1999.
Renumbered from § 46.003 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, §
21.001(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 49.004. USE OF FUNDS IN AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY
ACCOUNT. (a) From funds appropriated for the agri-tech program,
the comptroller shall issue warrants to each eligible institution
in the amount certified by the department to the comptroller.
(b) Funds awarded from the agricultural technology account
may be expended to support the particular research project for
which the award is made and may not be expended for the general
support of research and instruction at the institution conducting
or sponsoring the project or for the construction or remodeling of a
facility.
(c) Funds in the agricultural technology account shall be
used, when practicable within the purposes of this chapter, to
match grants provided by the federal government or private industry
for specific collaborative research projects at eligible
institutions.
(d) Supplies, materials, services, and equipment purchased
with funds obtained under this section are not subject to General
Services Commission authority.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1459, § 7, eff. June 19, 1999.
Renumbered from § 46.004 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, §
21.001(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 49.005. PROGRESS REPORTS. An institution receiving
funds under this chapter shall report on the progress of the funded
research to the department not later than September 1 of each year.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1459, § 7, eff. June 19, 1999.
Renumbered from § 46.005 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, §
21.001(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
§ 49.006. MERIT REVIEW. The commissioner shall appoint
a committee consisting of representatives of the agricultural
industry and of private enterprise advanced technology research
organizations to evaluate the agri-tech program's effectiveness.
The committee shall report its findings to the department not later
than September 1 of the second year of each biennium.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1459, § 7, eff. June 19, 1999.
Renumbered from § 46.006 by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1420, §
21.001(2), eff. Sept. 1, 2001.
