2005 Texas Agriculture Code CHAPTER 45. TEXAS-ISRAEL EXCHANGE FUND

AGRICULTURE CODE

CHAPTER 45. TEXAS-ISRAEL EXCHANGE FUND


	§ 45.001. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS;  PURPOSE.  (a) The 
legislature finds that Texas and Israel have many interests in 
common.  They face many of the same difficulties in agriculture;  
the geography of both areas produces semiarid climatic conditions;  
there is present in both areas a rising demand for a limited supply 
of water coupled with increasing pressures to minimize the use of 
energy in all aspects of agriculture.  Scientific and technological 
cooperatives already produce close ties between the two areas while 
engaging in binational projects for scientific and industrial 
research and development.
	A fund to support joint agricultural research and development 
by, and the development of trade and business relations between, 
Texas and Israel will address common problems and make substantial 
contributions to the development of agriculture, trade, and 
business in both areas.  Since Texas has long emphasized 
broad-based agricultural research and Israel has originated and 
developed agricultural technologies designed to maximize 
production with minimal use of resources such as water and labor, 
each of the two areas will benefit by sharing information and 
expertise.
	(b)  The purpose of this chapter is to:                                        
		(1)  establish a fund to promote and support practical 
and applied agricultural research and development that will result 
in mutual benefit to Texas and Israel and will help to provide 
solutions to food and fiber production problems wherever they 
exist, particularly those relating to water conservation;  and
		(2)  establish a program of mutual cooperation that 
will foster the development of trade, mutual assistance, and 
business relations between Texas and Israel.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 2, eff. May 18, 1993.


	§ 45.002. DEFINITIONS.  In this chapter:                                    
		(1)  "Applied research" means the process of assembling 
knowledge gained by careful and diligent search and studious 
inquiry and examination and using that knowledge to solve 
practical, real-world problems.
		(2)  "Board" means the Texas-Israel Exchange Fund 
Board.                    
		(3)  "Fund" means the Texas-Israel Exchange Fund.                             

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 3, eff. May 18, 1993.


	§ 45.003. CREATION OF FUND.  (a) The Texas-Israel 
Exchange Fund is established within the department.
	(b)  The fund is a fund in the state treasury.                                 

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 4, eff. May 18, 1993.


	§ 45.004. ADMINISTRATION.  (a) The commissioner shall 
appoint a director to administer the fund.
	(b)  The department shall provide the director and the 
advisory board with necessary staff, supplies, and office space.
	(c)  The commissioner shall adopt rules necessary for the 
implementation and administration of this chapter.
	(d)  The director shall cooperate with the chief 
administrator of the corresponding Israel fund to fulfill the 
purpose and goals of this chapter.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.          


	§ 45.005. GENERAL FUNCTIONS, POWERS, AND DUTIES.  (a) The 
scope of agricultural research and development which the fund may 
promote and support encompasses all scientific activities related 
to agriculture, including production, processing, marketing, and 
agricultural services, with emphasis on the support of applied 
research to improve water, labor, and energy utilization in 
agriculture.
	(b)  The fund shall support applied research in areas of 
potential mutual interest, including:
		(1)  water conservation;                                                      
		(2)  water management and use;                                                
		(3)  soil management and conservation;                                        
		(4)  innovative sources of energy for agricultural 
production;              
		(5)  environmental aspects of agricultural technology;                        
		(6)  intensive crop production;  and                                          
		(7)  agricultural engineering and processing.                                 
	(c)  The fund may undertake agricultural research and 
development projects of mutual benefit that are located in Texas, 
Israel, or any other location suggested by the advisory boards.
	(d)  The fund may make research or development grants or 
loans to public or private entities who intend to carry out the 
stated objectives of the fund.
	(e)  The fund shall encourage or support the exchange of 
agricultural producers, scientists, teachers, students, or other 
types of agricultural experts between the two cooperating areas of 
Texas and Israel.
	(f)  The fund shall encourage and support a program of mutual 
cooperation that will foster the development of trade, mutual 
assistance, and business relations between Texas and Israel.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989,  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 5, eff. May 18, 1993.


	§ 45.006. TEXAS-ISRAEL EXCHANGE FUND BOARD.  (a) The 
Texas-Israel Exchange Fund Board is created and composed of:
		(1)  the commissioner of agriculture;                                         
		(2)  five members appointed by the commissioner;                              
		(3)  one member appointed by the executive officer of 
The University of Texas System;
		(4)  one member appointed by the executive officer of 
The Texas A&M University System;
		(5)  one member appointed by the executive officer of 
Texas Tech University;  and
		(6)  as nonvoting, ex officio members, the lieutenant 
governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the 
comptroller or their designees.
	(b)  The commissioner serves as chairman of the board, and 
the board shall annually elect whatever other officers the members 
consider necessary.
	(c)  The board shall meet at least annually, and the chairman 
may call additional meetings.  The board may meet with the 
corresponding body established by Israel if a majority of the board 
decides that such a joint meeting would help to meet the objectives 
of this chapter.
	(d)  Appointed board members serve for staggered six-year 
terms.  The terms of approximately one-third of the appointed board 
members expire on February 1 of each odd-numbered year.
	(e)  The person who appointed a member who vacates a position 
on the board shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the 
unexpired term.
	(f)  Members of the board serve without compensation but are 
entitled to reimbursement for actual expenses incurred in carrying 
out official duties, subject to the approval of the board.
	(g)  The board shall cooperate closely with the 
corresponding body established by Israel so that projects under 
consideration or undertaken meet the stated objectives of this 
chapter and are not duplicative.
	(h)  After consultation with the corresponding body in 
Israel, the board shall advise or ratify the choice of projects and 
programs to be undertaken by the fund, following the purposes 
expressed in this chapter.  The board shall also suggest priorities 
among projects or programs.
	(i)  The board is subject to Chapter 325, Government Code 
(Texas Sunset Act).  Unless continued in existence as provided by 
that chapter, the board is abolished and this chapter expires 
September 1, 2011.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  
Amended by Acts 1991, 72nd Leg., 1st C.S., ch. 17, § 2.04, eff. 
Nov. 12, 1991;  Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 6, 7, eff. May 
18, 1993;  Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1449, § 3.01, eff. Sept. 1, 
1999;  Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 52, § 8, eff. May 7, 2001;  Acts 
2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1170, § 44.01, eff. Sept. 1, 2003;  Acts 
2005, 79th Leg., ch. 1227, § 3.02, eff. Sept. 1, 2005.


	§ 45.007. FINANCING.  (a) The original endowment of the 
fund consists of no more than $5 million, mirroring an equal amount 
to be contributed by Israel to its corresponding fund.
	(b)  The board 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 appropriation is subject only to limitations contained 
in the gift or grant.
	(c)  Proceeds of all gifts and grants shall be deposited in 
the state treasury to the credit of the fund.
	(d)  The board shall make an annual accounting of all money 
received, awarded, and expended during the year to the legislative 
committees responsible for agricultural issues.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.          


	§ 45.008. FINAL DISBURSEMENT OF FUND.  (a) If the 
objectives of the fund cannot be realized because of lack of 
cooperation with the appropriate entities in Israel or if the board 
is abolished by the legislature or by operation of Chapter 325, 
Government Code (Texas Sunset Act), any asset remaining that was 
received by gift or grant from Israel shall be liquidated and a pro 
rata share of any money other than revenue deposited in the state 
treasury to the credit of the fund shall be returned to Israel.
	(b)  Any agricultural or intellectual property and all 
records and documents of the fund shall be disposed of as the board 
determines.

Added by Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1210, § 1, eff. Aug. 28, 1989.  
Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 225, § 8, eff. May 18, 1993.