Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
During the 2011 legislative session, the Texas Legislature
created the Texas Grain Producer Indemnity Board and provided for the
establishment of a fund which would handle the responsibilities of the board. HB
2504, if passed, would modify the agriculture code and create such a fund.
Specifically, this fund would be defined as “a trust fund
outside the state treasury to be held by the comptroller and administered by
the board, without appropriation, for the payment of claims against a grain
buyer”. The bill further adds a number of relevant definitions, and both defines
and specifies the powers and duties of the board. One notable section which
would be added to the code (41.216) would establish an administrative review
process to review and resolve claims arising from potential board action.
The existence of a Texas Grain Producer Indemnity Board
managed by the Department of Agriculture raises some concerns but HB 2504 is
concerned only with putting a funding mechanism is place. This is less
problematic and concerns are mitigated by some of the measures taken in the
bill, such as the administrative review process. Also, helpful is the
modification of code so that a grain producer may only be awarded up to 85% (as
opposed to 90%) of the grain value in question.
Most notable though is that this fund will be revenue
neutral as both the Texas Department of Agriculture, and the Office of the
Comptroller have declared that the provisions of the bill could be handled with
current resources. (See the fiscal note.) Ultimately, although the board may be
problematic institution, the funding method that would be put in place if HB
2504 were to pass is prudent and well-constructed. There are no serious grounds
to either support or oppose this bill and, thus, we remain neutral.