AGRICULTURE CODE

TITLE 5. PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, AND SALE OF HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS

SUBTITLE B. HORTICULTURAL DISEASES AND PESTS

CHAPTER 77. FIRE ANT CONTROL



SUBCHAPTER A. ERADICATION PROGRAM



Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.



Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.



Sec. 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, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1981. Amended by Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 628, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987.



SUBCHAPTER B. BASIC RESEARCH PROGRAM



Sec. 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, Sec. 7.01(15), eff. Nov. 12, 1991.

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