89R3862 PRL-D     By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 1781       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and   Continuation Grant Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle D, Title 4, Government Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 452 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 452. TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND CONTINUATION   GRANT PROGRAM          Sec. 452.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Board" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo   Education and Continuation Board established under Section   452.003.                (2)  "Fund" means the Texas Livestock and Rodeo   Education and Continuation Fund established under Section 452.002.                (3)  "Grant program" means the Texas Livestock and   Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant Program established under   Section 452.006.          Sec. 452.002.  TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND   CONTINUATION FUND; COMPTROLLER DUTIES. (a) The Texas Livestock and   Rodeo Education and Continuation Fund is established outside the   state treasury and is held in trust by the comptroller for   administration of this chapter.          (b)  The fund consists of:                (1)  money appropriated, credited, or transferred to   the fund by the legislature;                (2)  gifts or grants contributed to the fund; and                (3)  interest earned on the deposits and investments of   the fund.          (c)  The fund may be used only to implement the grant program   established under Section 452.006, including the costs of grant   program administration and operation.          (d)  The comptroller at the direction of the board may   disburse money from the fund without appropriation only as provided   by this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.          (e)  The comptroller in consultation with the board may adopt   rules necessary to implement this chapter.          Sec. 452.003.  TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND   CONTINUATION BOARD. (a)  The Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education   and Continuation Board consists of seven members appointed by the   governor.          (b)  In appointing members to the board, the governor shall   ensure each member has demonstrated interest in issues related to   rodeos and county fairs in this state through:                (1)  competing in rodeos; or                (2)  previous service:                      (A)  on a board of a rodeo organization, county   fair organization, 4-H program, or Future Farmers of America   organization; or                      (B)  with an organization or program described by   Paragraph (A) in the preceding 15 years.          (c)  The board must include at least:                (1)  two members with rodeo experience; and                (2)  two members with county fair experience.          (d)  Each board member the governor appoints must represent a   different region of this state.          (e)  A board member may not hold any other public office.          (f)  A board member serves without compensation but is   entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in attending   board meetings and in performing board duties.          (g)  If a vacancy occurs on the board, the governor shall   appoint a member to fill the vacancy. A member appointed to fill a   vacancy on the board shall serve the remainder of the unexpired   term.          (h)  The board shall meet quarterly.          Sec. 452.004.  BOARD MEMBER TERMS. Board members serve   staggered six-year terms with the terms of two or three members   expiring on January 1 of each even-numbered year. A board member may   not serve more than two terms.          Sec. 452.005.  BOARD PRESIDING OFFICER AND ASSISTANT   PRESIDING OFFICER. (a)  The governor shall select from among the   board members a presiding officer for the board who serves at the   pleasure of the governor.          (b)  The board members shall elect an assistant presiding   officer from among the board members who serves at the pleasure of   the board.          (c)  The presiding officer and assistant presiding officer   serve two-year terms.          Sec. 452.006.  TEXAS LIVESTOCK AND RODEO EDUCATION AND   CONTINUATION GRANT PROGRAM. (a) The board shall establish and   administer the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation   Grant Program to award money from the fund to county fairs and local   rodeos for the purposes of assisting with:                (1)  facility and infrastructure maintenance or   construction;                (2)  event programs;                (3)  personnel salaries; and                (4)  public health and safety.          (b)  To be eligible for a grant award under the grant   program, an applicant must:                (1)  apply in the manner the board prescribes;                (2)  be in good standing under the laws of this state;                (3)  specify the manner the grant money would benefit   county livestock programs or local youth agricultural programs   within the county; and                (4)  demonstrate a legitimate need for the grant money   that provides a public benefit to this state in accordance with   board rules.          (c)  The board may only award a grant in accordance with a   contract between the board and a grant recipient that includes   conditions providing the board with sufficient control to ensure   the public purpose of continuing to promote and improve this   state's livestock and agricultural programs and to educate the   public regarding those programs is accomplished and this state   receives a return benefit.          (d)  Each local rodeo or county fair applicant awarded a   grant under the grant program shall submit:                (1)  for a rodeo or county fair with an operating budget   greater than $10 million, a report on the economic impact   attributable to the preparation for and presentation of the rodeo   or fair in the area served by the rodeo or fair; or                (2)  for a rodeo or county fair with an operating budget   less than $10 million, a report demonstrating the economic   development needs of the community.          (e)  The board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement   this section.          Sec. 452.007.  PERSONNEL. The board shall employ the   officers and employees necessary to administer this chapter.          Sec. 452.008.  BIENNIAL REPORT. Not later than December 1 of   each even-numbered year, the board shall prepare and submit to the   governor, the lieutenant governor, and each member of the   legislature a report that includes:                (1)  the fund balance as of the date of the report;                (2)  the total amount of grant money awarded under and   other disbursements from the fund during the two preceding state   fiscal years;                (3)  the number of grant applications submitted to the   board during the two preceding state fiscal years; and                (4)  the economic impact reports and community need   reports submitted to the board during the two preceding state   fiscal years.          SECTION 2.  (a)  Not later than January 1, 2026, the governor   shall appoint members to the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education   and Continuation Board and select a presiding officer from among   the members of the board as required by Chapter 452, Government   Code, as added by this Act.          (b)  Notwithstanding Section 452.004, Government Code, as   added by this Act, in making the initial appointments to the Texas   Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Board under   Subsection (a) of this section, the governor shall designate two   members to serve terms expiring January 1, 2028, two members to   serve terms expiring January 1, 2030, and three members to serve   terms expiring January 1, 2032.          SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable following the effective   date of this Act, the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and   Continuation Board shall adopt the rules necessary to administer   the Texas Livestock and Rodeo Education and Continuation Grant   Program established under Section 452.006, Government Code, as   added by this Act.          SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.