CHAPTER 77. FIRE ANT CONTROL

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.