By: Nelson	S.B. No. 880

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to certain committees and programs to develop the wine
	industry in this state through the Department of Agriculture.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 50B.002, Agriculture
	Code, is amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 50B.002.  WINE INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT [AND MARKETING]
	ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
	SECTION 2.  Section 50B.002, Agriculture Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (b-1) and
	(g) to read as follows:
	(a)  The commissioner shall appoint a wine industry
	development [and marketing] advisory committee to:
	(1)  develop a long-term vision and marketable identity
	for the wine industry in the state that take into consideration
	future industry development, funding, research, educational
	programming, risk management, and marketing; [and]
	(2)  assist the commissioner in establishing and
	implementing the Texas Wine Marketing Assistance Program under
	Chapter 110, Alcoholic Beverage Code; and
	(3)  assist and advise the commissioner in determining
	the best and most productive and efficient expenditures of the wine
	industry development fund.
	(b)  The committee consists of members appointed by the
	commissioner to [who] represent a diverse cross-section of the wine
	industry, including representatives of:
	(1)  grape growers representing various regions of this
	state;
	(2)  wineries representing a variety of small, medium,
	and large formats from the various regions of this state;
	(3)  [wholesalers;
	[(4)  package stores;
	[(5)  retailers;
	[(6)]  researchers or educators specializing in
	viticulture or enology;
	(4) [(7)]  consumers who are not affiliated with the
	alcoholic beverage industry;
	(5) [(8)]  the department; and
	(6) [(9)]  the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission.
	(b-1)  The members described by Subsections (b)(4) and (6)
	are nonvoting members.
	(g)  Not later than September 1 of each year, the committee
	shall provide the commissioner with a written report containing:
	(1)  a summary of the committee's discussions,
	conclusions, and recommendations from the fiscal year preceding
	that date;
	(2)  a proposed schedule and plan of action for the
	fiscal year beginning on that date designed to implement and
	further the objectives of this chapter and Chapter 110, Alcoholic
	Beverage Code;
	(3)  a proposed budget and prioritized spending plan
	for expenditures of the wine industry development fund; and
	(4)  other information requested by the commissioner or
	determined by a majority of the committee to be appropriate for
	inclusion in the report.
	SECTION 3.  Chapter 50B, Agriculture Code, is amended by
	adding Section 50B.0025 to read as follows:
	Sec. 50B.0025.  ANNUAL PLAN AND BUDGET. Not later than
	November 1 of each year, the commissioner shall prepare for the
	current fiscal year the schedule and plan of action and budget and
	prioritized spending plan described by Section 50B.002(g),
	considering the recommendations of the committee under that section
	and following them to the extent the commissioner considers
	appropriate.
	SECTION 4.  Section 50B.003(b), Agriculture Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Except as provided by Sections 205.03(l), (m), and (n),
	Alcoholic Beverage Code, money [Money] in the account may be
	appropriated only to the department and may be used only for the
	purpose of:
	(1)  providing funding to public or private entities to
	conduct surveys, research, and other projects related to:
	(A)  developing the Texas wine industry;
	(B)  developing viticulture and enology-related
	education programs;
	(C)  eliminating and eradicating [Pierce's
	disease, the glassy-winged sharpshooter, and other] diseases and
	pests that negatively impact the production of grapes and wine in
	the United States; and
	(D)  developing technologies or practices that
	could benefit the production of grapes and wine; and
	(2)  any administrative costs the department incurs in
	fulfilling the purposes described by Subdivision (1).
	SECTION 5.  Section 50B.0015, Agriculture Code, is repealed.
	SECTION 6.  On the effective date of this Act, the wine
	industry development and marketing advisory committee is
	abolished. The commissioner of agriculture may appoint a person
	who previously served on that committee to the wine industry
	development advisory committee established under Section 50B.002,
	Agriculture Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.