AGRICULTURE CODE CHAPTER 19. CITRUS BUDWOOD AND CITRUS NURSERY STOCK CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

AGRICULTURE CODE

TITLE 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

CHAPTER 19. CITRUS BUDWOOD AND CITRUS NURSERY STOCK CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

Sec. 19.001. PURPOSE. The purpose of this chapter is to:

(1) establish a certified citrus budwood program to produce citrus trees that are horticulturally sound, are free from virus and other recognizable bud-transmissible diseases, and are of an assured type of citrus variety;

(2) establish a certified citrus nursery program for citrus nursery stock sold in the citrus zone as part of an effort to produce citrus trees that are free from pathogens, including citrus greening disease, which is spread by the Asian citrus psyllid;

(3) provide standards for foundation groves, certified citrus nurseries, and certified citrus nursery trees; and

(4) provide for an advisory council to make recommendations on the implementation of the programs.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 1, eff. June 19, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.002. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:

(1) "Advisory council" means the citrus budwood advisory council.

(1-a) "Asian citrus psyllid" has the meaning assigned by Section 80.003.

(2) "Certified citrus budwood" means citrus budwood that meets standards required by the department for assurance of type of citrus variety and for freedom from dangerous pathogens.

(2-a) "Certified citrus nursery" means a nursery that meets standards required by the department for production of citrus nursery stock free from pests of citrus.

(2-b) "Certified citrus nursery stock" means citrus nursery stock propagated from cuttings or by budding, grafting, or air-layering and grown from certified citrus budwood that meets standards required by the department for assurance of type of citrus variety and for freedom from dangerous pathogens.

(3) "Citrus budwood" means a portion of a stem or branch of a citrus tree containing buds used in propagation from cuttings or by budding or grafting.

(4) "Citrus grower" means a citrus producer growing and producing citrus nursery stock for commercial or retail marketing purposes.

(5) "Citrus nursery" means a producer of citrus trees propagated from cuttings or through the budding or grafting of citrus trees using certified citrus budwood.

(5-a) "Citrus nursery stock" means citrus plants to be used in a commercial or noncommercial setting.

(6) "Foundation grove" means a grove containing parent trees from which certified citrus budwood is obtained.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 2, eff. June 19, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 3, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 235 (S.B. 979), Sec. 1, eff. May 25, 2019.

Sec. 19.003. SCOPE. Except as otherwise provided by this chapter, this chapter applies to all citrus nurseries and citrus growers.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 3, eff. June 19, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 4, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.0031. CITRUS ZONE. The following counties are designated as the citrus zone of this state for the purpose of this chapter: Brooks, Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Kenedy, Starr, Willacy, and Zapata.

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.004. CITRUS BUDWOOD CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. (a) The citrus budwood certification program is established. The department administers the program.

(b) The department shall accomplish the purposes of the program through the designation of foundation groves, the certification of citrus budwood grown in foundation groves, and the periodic inspection of citrus nurseries to ensure that the citrus nurseries are using certified citrus budwood.

(c) The department, with the advice of the advisory council, shall set standards for foundation groves, set standards for citrus budwood certification, designate individual foundation groves, and inspect citrus nurseries and the records of citrus nurseries to ensure that the citrus nurseries are using certified citrus budwood.

(d) The department or the advisory council may not require the use of certified citrus budwood until the department and the advisory council determine that an adequate supply of certified citrus budwood is available.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 4, eff. June 19, 1997.

Sec. 19.0041. CITRUS NURSERY STOCK CERTIFICATION PROGRAM. (a) The citrus nursery stock certification program is established. The department administers the program.

(b) The department shall accomplish the purposes of the program through the certification of nurseries growing or selling citrus nursery stock in the citrus zone.

(d) The department, in consultation with the advisory council, shall set standards for certified citrus nurseries and citrus nursery stock certification, and shall inspect citrus nurseries and the records of citrus nurseries to ensure that citrus nurseries comply with the provisions of the citrus nursery stock certification program.

(e) The department shall provide for an annual renewal of a certificate for a certified citrus nursery, including the imposition of applicable fees. The department shall renew the certificate if the nursery maintains the standards set by the department under Subsection (d).

Added by Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 5, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.005. ADVISORY COUNCIL. (a) The commissioner shall appoint the advisory council. The advisory council is composed of seven members, including:

(1) one member representing the department;

(2) one member representing The Texas A&M University-Kingsville Citrus Center at Weslaco;

(3) two members representing the citrus nursery industry;

(4) two members representing citrus growers; and

(5) one member having specialized knowledge in citrus diseases and pests.

(b) A member serves a two-year term and may be reappointed.

(c) Members of the advisory council are not eligible for reimbursement of expenses arising from service on the advisory council.

(d) Chapter 2110, Government Code, does not apply to the duration of the advisory council.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995.

Reenacted and amended by Acts 2021, 87th Leg., R.S., Ch. 848 (S.B. 703), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2021.

Sec. 19.006. RULES. The department, with the advice of the advisory council, shall adopt standards and rules:

(1) necessary to administer the citrus budwood certification program and the citrus nursery certification program;

(2) to regulate the sale of citrus budwood and citrus nursery trees as supplies of certified citrus budwood and certified citrus nursery trees become available; and

(3) requiring citrus nursery stock sold in the citrus zone to be propagated:

(A) using certified citrus budwood; and

(B) in an enclosed structure that:

(i) is built to specifications as determined by department rule; and

(ii) has a top and sides that are built to exclude insects that may transmit citrus pathogens.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 5, eff. June 19, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 6, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.007. CERTIFICATION STANDARDS. (a) The department shall establish:

(1) the certification standards for genetic purity for varieties of citrus budwood by type;

(2) procedures that must be followed to prevent the introduction of dangerous citrus pathogens into budwood stock from and in foundation groves;

(3) procedures for certification of citrus budwood grown in foundation groves; and

(4) procedures for certification of citrus nurseries and citrus nursery trees.

(b) The department shall establish standards and procedures for:

(1) inspecting and testing for diseases, using current technologies in disease diagnosis, and for desirable horticultural characteristics of citrus budwood grown in designated foundation groves;

(2) certifying citrus budwood and citrus nurseries meeting requirements established under this chapter;

(3) maintaining a source of citrus budwood of superior tested varieties for distribution to the citrus industry;

(4) verifying propagation of citrus varieties and special rootstocks for growers on request, including an inspection of the citrus nursery's books and records;

(5) maintaining appropriate records required for participation in the citrus budwood certification and citrus nursery stock certification programs;

(6) inspecting citrus nurseries to ensure that the structures in which citrus nursery stock is propagated meet standards set by the department, including standards for:

(A) size;

(B) construction;

(D) citrus nursery sanitation;

(E) movement of the citrus nursery stock from one structure to another at the nursery;

(F) proximity to nearby citrus groves; and

(G) other standards for the operation of a certified nursery as may be required by the department; and

(7) requiring each citrus nursery to submit source tree bud cutting reports to the department not later than the 30th day after citrus trees are budded.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 6, eff. June 19, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.008. APPLYING FOR FOUNDATION GROVE DESIGNATION, BUDWOOD CERTIFICATION, AND CITRUS NURSERY CERTIFICATION. (a) A person who desires to operate a foundation grove and produce certified citrus budwood for sale to the citrus industry must apply for foundation grove designation and citrus budwood certification in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

(b) A person who desires to operate a citrus nursery to propagate citrus nursery stock for sale in the citrus zone must apply for citrus nursery certification in accordance with rules adopted by the department.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.009. REVOCATION. The department shall establish rules regarding the revocation of foundation grove designation, citrus budwood certification, and citrus nursery certification.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.010. PROGRAM COST; FEES; ACCOUNT. (a) The department shall set and collect fees from persons applying for foundation grove designation, citrus budwood certification, or citrus nursery certification. The department shall set the fees in an amount that recovers the department's costs in administering and enforcing the citrus budwood certification program and the citrus nursery certification program. The department may also accept funds from the citrus industry or other interested persons to cover the costs of administering the programs.

(b) All fees and funds collected or contributed under this section shall be deposited to the credit of an account in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be appropriated only to the department for the purpose of administering and enforcing this chapter.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.011. STOP-SALE ORDER. (a) If a person offers citrus budwood or a citrus nursery tree for sale falsely claiming that it is certified, that it comes from a designated foundation grove, or that it comes from a certified citrus nursery, or offers citrus budwood, a citrus nursery tree, or citrus nursery stock for sale in violation of rules adopted under this chapter, the department may issue a written order to stop the sale of that citrus budwood, citrus nursery tree, or citrus nursery stock. A person may not sell citrus budwood, a citrus nursery tree, or citrus nursery stock that is subject to a stop-sale order under this section until:

(1) the sale is permitted by a court under Subsection (b); or

(2) the department determines that the sale of the citrus budwood, citrus nursery tree, or citrus nursery stock is in compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.

(a-1) The department may issue a written order to stop the sale of citrus nursery stock from a citrus nursery or to stop the operation of all or part of a citrus nursery if a person propagates citrus nursery stock in a citrus nursery for sale in the citrus zone and:

(1) the person falsely claims that the citrus nursery is certified; or

(2) if the citrus nursery is certified, the person fails to comply with the rules adopted under this chapter.

(a-2) A person may not sell citrus nursery stock out of a citrus nursery, or operate a citrus nursery or a part of a citrus nursery, that is subject to a stop-sale order under this section until:

(1) the sale is permitted by a court under Subsection (b); or

(2) the department determines that the citrus nursery is in compliance with this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.

(b) The person named in the order may bring suit in a court in the county where the citrus budwood, citrus nursery tree, or citrus nursery subject to the stop-sale order is located. After a hearing, the court may, as applicable, permit the citrus budwood or citrus nursery tree to be sold, or permit the citrus nursery to continue operations, if the court finds, as applicable, the citrus budwood or citrus nursery tree is not being offered for sale or that the citrus nursery is not operating in violation of this chapter.

(d) The department shall inspect each citrus nursery in the citrus zone not less than once every two months in order to enforce this section.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 7, eff. June 19, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 7, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.012. CRIMINAL PENALTY. (a) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) sells or offers to sell citrus budwood, a citrus nursery tree, or citrus nursery stock falsely claiming that it is certified or that it comes from a designated foundation grove or a certified citrus nursery;

(2) uses, for commercial purposes, citrus budwood that is required by department rule to be certified and is not certified or does not come from a designated foundation grove;

(3) sells or offers to sell in the citrus zone citrus nursery stock that has not been propagated in a certified citrus nursery;

(4) operates, in the citrus zone for the propagation of citrus nursery stock, a citrus nursery that is not a certified citrus nursery or that is not in compliance with this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter;

(5) operates, outside of the citrus zone for the propagation of citrus nursery stock for sale in the citrus zone, a citrus nursery that is not a certified citrus nursery or that is not in compliance with this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter; or

(6) fails to comply with an order of the department issued under this chapter.

(b) An offense under this section is a Class C misdemeanor.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 8, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 506 (S.B. 1016), Sec. 9.06, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 8, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.013. CIVIL PENALTY; INJUNCTION. (a) A person who violates this chapter, a rule adopted under this chapter, or an order adopted under this chapter is liable to the state for a civil penalty not to exceed $500 for each violation. Each day a violation continues is a separate violation for purposes of civil penalty assessment.

(b) On request of the department, the attorney general or the county attorney or district attorney of the county in which the violation is alleged to have occurred shall file suit to collect the penalty.

(c) A civil penalty collected under this section in a suit filed by the attorney general shall be deposited to the credit of an account in the general revenue fund. A civil penalty collected under this section in a suit filed by a county or district attorney shall be divided between the state and the county in which the county or district attorney brought suit, with 50 percent of the amount collected paid to the state for deposit to the credit of an account in the general revenue fund and 50 percent of the amount collected paid to the county. Funds credited to the account in the general revenue fund may be appropriated only to the department for purposes of administering and enforcing this chapter and rules adopted under this chapter.

(d) The department is entitled to appropriate injunctive relief to prevent or abate a violation of this chapter or an order adopted under this chapter. On request of the department, the attorney general or the county or district attorney of the county in which the alleged violation is threatened or occurring shall file suit for the injunctive relief. Venue is in the county in which the alleged violation is threatened or is occurring.

(e) A person is not subject to both a criminal penalty under Section 19.012 and a civil penalty under this section for the same violation of law.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995.

Amended by:

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2013.

Sec. 19.014. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTIES. The department may assess an administrative penalty under Chapter 12 for a violation of this chapter if the department finds that a person:

(2) uses citrus budwood in violation of rules adopted under this chapter;

(3) uses, for commercial purposes, citrus budwood that is required by department rule to be certified and is not certified or does not come from a designated foundation grove;

(4) sells or offers to sell citrus nursery stock in the citrus zone falsely claiming that the citrus nursery stock was propagated in a certified citrus nursery;

(5) operates, in the citrus zone for the propagation of citrus nursery stock, a citrus nursery that is not a certified citrus nursery or that is not in compliance with this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter;

(6) operates, outside of the citrus zone for the propagation of citrus nursery stock for sale in the citrus zone, a citrus nursery that is not a certified citrus nursery or that is not in compliance with this chapter or a rule adopted under this chapter; or

(7) fails to comply with an order of the department issued under this chapter.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 358, Sec. 1, eff. June 8, 1995. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 1117, Sec. 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1997.

Amended by:

Acts 2009, 81st Leg., R.S., Ch. 506 (S.B. 1016), Sec. 9.07, eff. September 1, 2009.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 166 (S.B. 1427), Sec. 10, eff. September 1, 2013.