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TSCRA Government News, May 15, 2009
News from the Texas Legislature News from the Texas Legislature Cattle Theft Bill on its way to the governor TSCRA applauded the Texas Legislature for their final approval of a bill to increase the penalty for livestock theft in Texas. SB 1163, introduced by Senator Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo) and Representative Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham), unanimously passed the House, and is now on its way to the governor, where it will be signed into law or vetoed. "Texas is the number one cattle producing state in the nation, but the penalty for cattle theft in Texas is more lenient than the neighboring states of Oklahoma, New Mexico and Louisiana," said TSCRA President Dave Scott, Richmond. "Cattle theft in Texas has more than doubled during the past year. To protect this $15 billion a year industry, Texas needs a stricter penalty. SB 1163 does that by increasing the penalty for cattle theft from a state jail felony to a third degree felony," Scott continued. In 2007, 2,400 head of cattle were reported stolen to the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. In 2008, that number jumped to 6,404. Under current law theft of less than 10 head of cattle, horses or exotic wildlife is a state jail felony. Prior to 1993, livestock theft was classified as a third degree felony. In 1993 the Texas Legislature created the State Jail Felony category, also known as a fourth degree felony. Livestock theft has risen since the law was changed in 1993, largely due to the number of repeat offenders who are let out on state jail felony probation. TSCRA special ranger asset forfeiture bill passes Texas Legislature TSCRA's asset forfeiture bill, HB 2062, introduced by Representative Pete Gallego (D-Alpine) and Senator Chuy Hinojosa (D-McAllen) would allow TSCRA special rangers to enter into local agreements with state attorneys on asset forfeiture cases. The bill received final approval from the Texas Senate and is now on its way to the governor. Cattle guard bill passes Texas Legislature SB 1059, introduced by Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy) and Representative Larry Phillips (R-Sherman), was approved by the State Legislature Friday. The bill would require the commissioner's court of a county to notify affected landowners by certified mail 90 days in advance of removing a cattle guard, and allow the landowner to request a hearing at the county commissioner's court. TSCRA worked closely with the bill authors to draft this bill in response to land owner concerns regarding the removal of cattle guards on county roads. TxDOT Sunset bill repeals Trans-Texas Corridor The Texas House has passed the TxDOT Sunset Bill. The bill was amended to contain a new provision that would change the current five-member governor-appointed commission to a 15-member elected commission with term limits. If signed into law, this commission will be made up of 14 commissioners elected to represent geographic districts around the state and one at-large commissioner. The regional commissioners would serve a two-year term and the at-large commissioner would serve as presiding officer for four years. Representative Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) and David Leibowitz (D-San Antonio) introduced an additional amendment to permanently repeal the Trans-Texas Corridor. The bill was been referred to the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee. It must be approved by the Senate before it is sent to the governor. This legislative session, TSCRA has supported bills that would repeal the Trans-Texas Corridor, reform the Texas Department of Transportation, fight off toll roads, and reform the eminent domain laws to level the playing field for property owners. These are all priority issues for TSCRA. Nearly 4,000 House Bills Expire Out of approximately 7,100 bills filed, 4,000 died. The Texas House adjourned shortly after a midnight deadline Thursday night, leaving thousands of bills to die in the last leg of the 81st Legislative Session. House bills had to be approved by midnight Thursday to survive. Unless these bills can be amended on other bills, they will most likely have to wait two more years for another chance to become law. Amongst the casualties were several House bills dealing with animal cruelty, increased county zoning regulations, detrimental tax and water provisions, and immigration. TSCRA President Dave Scott attends Cuba Trade Meeting with Commissioner Staples The Texas-Cuba Trade Alliance along with the AgriLife Extension Service and other sponsors hosted a symposium to educate producer leader on international trade with Cuba. TSCRA President Dave Scott attended the event in Houston on behalf of TSCRA. The Texas-Cuba Trade Alliance, founded in 2003, serves as an information and education source for Texas farmers, ranchers and food processors wanting to export to Cuba. TSCRA to participate in USDA NAIS listening session USDA is seeking to engage stakeholders and producers to hear not only their concerns about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), but also potential or feasible solutions to those concerns. The information and ideas gathered will assist Secretary Vilsack in making decisions about the future direction of animal traceability in the U.S. On May 20, USDA will be hosting a listening session in Austin at the Embassy Suites Hotel located at 5901 N IH-35. Producers are invited to attend and share their comments, or you can submit comments online by clicking here. Additional information about the listening session is available at http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/feedback.shtml. Vilsack names Rayne Pegg as administrator of Agricultural Marketing Service Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment of Rayne Pegg as administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service. (USDA/AMS) The agency is part of USDA's Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area which works to ensure a productive and competitive global and domestic marketplace for U.S. agricultural products. Pegg will begin serving in this role in early July. As an advocate with the California Farm Bureau Federation, Pegg analyzed California agriculture's foreign market opportunities and competition and participated in the World Trade Organization and US-Korea FTA negotiations. She has worked with USDA to resolve phytosanitary barriers that restrict the movement of California products to foreign and domestic markets. In addition, Pegg was previously appointed to the USDA, Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee on Fruits and Vegetables. Pegg was also a principle in the creation of the California Leafy Green Product Handler Marketing Agreement, which was established in response to the spinach E. coli outbreak in 2006. Pegg earned her BA in Psychology from the College of Notre Dame of Maryland. On a personal level, she is a mentor for Wonder Inc., a support network for foster children. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that Julie Paradis will serve as Administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in Washington, D.C. The Food and Nutrition Service administers the food and nutrition assistance programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The agency provides children and needy families with better access to food and a more healthful diet through its programs and nutrition education efforts. Paradis' 30 years of experience covers a wide range of USDA's nutrition assistance and agricultural programs, including domestic nutrition assistance programs, nutrition education, commodity distribution programs, meat and poultry inspection, fruit and vegetable marketing, milk marketing orders, animal welfare, and grazing fees. Paradis is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, a member of the Texas Bar Association, and served on the Board of Directors of the Coalition on Human Needs.
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