Sec. 88.215. FIRE ANT RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT ADVISORY COMMITTEE; OTHER AGENCIES. (a) The Fire Ant Research and Management Account Advisory Committee is established as an advisory committee within the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station.
(b) The advisory committee consists of 11 members appointed as follows:
(1) one representative of Texas A & M University appointed by the director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station;
(2) one representative of Texas Tech University appointed by the dean of the College of Agriculture of Texas Tech University;
(3) one representative of The University of Texas appointed by the vice president for research of The University of Texas System;
(4) one representative of the Department of Agriculture appointed by the commissioner of agriculture;
(5) one representative of the Parks and Wildlife Department appointed by the director of the department;
(6) one representative of the Public Utility Commission of Texas appointed by the executive director of the commission;
(7) one representative of municipal governments appointed by the governor;
(8) one representative of the general public appointed by the governor;
(9) one representative of the agribusiness industry appointed by the governor;
(10) one representative of the chemical industry appointed by the Texas Chemical Council; and
(11) one representative of the oil and gas industry appointed by the Texas Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.
(c) The members of the committee serve staggered two-year terms, with the terms of the members described by Subsections (b)(1)-(5) expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year and the terms of the other members expiring on February 1 of each even-numbered year. A member may serve more than one term.
(d) The members of the advisory committee shall elect a member of the committee to serve as presiding officer for a term of two years.
(e) The advisory committee shall meet not less than two times each year.
(f) The advisory committee may adopt rules for the advisory committee's internal procedures.
(g) The administrative expenses of the advisory committee may not exceed 20 percent of the total amount of funds available for expenditure by the advisory committee.
(h) Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to compensation for service on the advisory committee. A member of the advisory committee who represents a university or state agency may receive reimbursement for travel expenses from the university or agency the member represents. A member of the advisory committee who does not represent a university or state agency shall pay the member's own expenses.
(i) The advisory committee shall:
(1) advise, assist, and direct the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in conducting fire ant research;
(2) encourage communication with other states that are infested with fire ants; and
(3) establish a framework for more efficient management of fire ant infestation problems.
(j) The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station shall:
(1) administer the fire ant basic research program under Section 77.022, Agriculture Code;
(2) solicit, distribute, and create competitive grant and other funding programs for fire ant research;
(3) engage in activities necessary to maximize funding received from the federal government for management of fire ants and research regarding fire ants; and
(4) with the advice of the advisory committee, plan a program of research regarding fire ants.
(k) The Texas Agricultural Extension Service shall:
(1) provide educational programs regarding fire ant infestation and treatment; and
(2) conduct public awareness programs regarding fire ant infestation and treatment through the use of the media, publications, demonstrations, and other means of public education.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 218, Sec. 1, eff. May 23, 1995.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 890 (H.B. 2458), Sec. 2.01, eff. September 1, 2007.
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