AGRICULTURE CODE

CHAPTER 77. FIRE ANT CONTROL

SUBCHAPTER A. ERADICATION PROGRAM


	§ 77.001.  COMMISSIONERS COURT MAY ESTABLISH 
PROGRAM.  The commissioners court of any county may establish, 
implement, and conduct a program for the eradication or control of 
the imported fire ant.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1207, ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.  
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1987.


	§ 77.002.  COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.  The 
program established under this chapter may be conducted 
independently of or in conjunction with any related program 
conducted and financed by private or other public entities.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1207, ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.  
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1987.


	§ 77.003.  COST OF PROGRAM.  The commissioners court may 
expend any available county funds to pay for all or its share of the 
cost of a program established under this chapter, including funds 
derived from taxation under the 80-cent limitation of Article VIII, 
Section 9, of the Texas Constitution.

Acts 1981, 67th Leg., p. 1207, ch. 388, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981.  
Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 
1987.

SUBCHAPTER B. BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM


	§ 77.022.  FIRE ANT BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM.  (a)  The 
Fire Ant Research and Management Account Advisory Committee 
established under Section 88.215, Education Code, in the Texas 
Agricultural Experiment Station shall oversee a program to finance 
broadly based ant research that the advisory committee determines 
to be of the highest scientific merit and offers the greatest 
promise in providing new directions for long-term solutions to fire 
ant infestations.
	(b)  An award under the program described by Subsection (a) 
of this section shall be granted for a two-year period for 
individual or group projects, and may be extended after review by 
the advisory committee at the end of that period.
	(c)  The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station 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 appropriations is subject, 
after their appropriation, only to limitations contained in the 
gift or grant.
	(d)  Except as provided by Subsection (c) of this section, 
awards under the program may be made from any gift, grant, or 
appropriation received.
	(e)  The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station shall make an 
annual accounting of all money received, awarded, and expended 
during the year to the legislative committees responsible for 
agricultural issues.
	(f)  The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station may adopt 
rules necessary for the implementation and administration of the 
award program.
	(g)  Repealed by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 17, § 
7.01(15), eff. Nov. 12, 1991.

Added by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.  
Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 17, § 7.01(15), 
eff. Nov. 12, 1991;  Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 218, § 2, eff. May 
23, 1995.