Sec. 88.216. AGRICULTURE AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE; OTHER AGENCIES. (a) The Agriculture and Wildlife Research and Management Advisory Committee is an advisory committee of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station and is composed of:
(1) one representative of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, appointed by the director of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station;
(2) one representative of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, appointed by the director of the Texas AgriLife Extension Service;
(3) one representative of Texas Tech University, appointed by the dean of the College of Agriculture of Texas Tech University;
(4) one representative of The University of Texas at Austin, appointed by the vice president for research of The University of Texas System;
(5) one representative of the Department of Agriculture, appointed by the commissioner of agriculture;
(6) one representative of the Parks and Wildlife Department, appointed by the director of the department;
(7) one representative of the Texas Water Development Board, appointed by the executive administrator of the board;
(8) one representative of county government, appointed by the governor;
(9) one representative of the general public, appointed by the governor;
(10) one representative of the agribusiness industry, appointed by the governor;
(11) one representative of environmental interests, appointed by the governor;
(12) one representative of wildlife interests, appointed by the governor; and
(13) one representative of the Texas rice industry, appointed by the governor.
(b) The members of the committee serve staggered two-year terms, with the terms of the members appointed under Subsections (a)(1)-(6) expiring on February 1 of each odd-numbered year and the terms of the remaining members expiring on February 1 of each even-numbered year.
(c) The members of the committee shall select a presiding officer who shall serve for a term of two years.
(d) The advisory committee shall meet not less than two times each year.
(e) 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.
(f) Members of the advisory committee are not entitled to compensation for service on the advisory committee or reimbursement for travel expenses, except that a member who represents a university or state agency may receive any reimbursement for travel expenses to which the member is otherwise entitled from the university or agency.
(g) The advisory committee shall:
(1) assist the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station in conducting agriculture and wildlife research;
(2) encourage communication with states that are interested in agriculture, wildlife, and water issues; and
(3) establish a plan for more efficient management of water resources related to wildlife habitats and agriculture production in the Gulf Coast Region.
(h) The Texas Agricultural Experiment Station shall:
(1) administer an agriculture and wildlife research program;
(2) solicit grants and create funding programs for agriculture and wildlife research;
(3) engage in activities designed to maximize funding from the federal government for agriculture and wildlife research and management; and
(4) with the advice of the advisory committee, plan a program of research regarding agriculture production and its relationship with water use and wildlife habitats.
(i) The Texas Agricultural Extension Service shall:
(1) provide educational programs relating to agriculture production, water use, and wildlife habitats; and
(2) conduct public awareness programs relating to the interaction of agriculture production, water use, and wildlife habitats through the use of mass communications media, publications, demonstrations, and other means of public education.
Added by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1074, Sec. 1, eff. June 18, 1999.
Amended by:
Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 4.012, eff. September 1, 2013.
Last modified: September 28, 2016