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TSCRA Daily News Update, April 22, 2008
TSCRA Director Bill White testifies on prescribed burning TSCRA Director Bill White of Stowell, Texas, testified in front of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission at the State Capitol in Austin today, Apr. 22. White's testimony dealt with the Commission's review of the Prescribed Burning Board, under the jurisdiction of Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA). TDA is under sunset review, a process which questions the need for each agency, looks for potential duplication of public services or programs, and considers changes to improve each agency's operations and activities. "Prescribed burning is an important and cost-effective land management tool for ranchers. Current law allows ranchers to conduct burns on their own land and that law should not be changed. Ranchers should retain the right to hire a prescribed burn manager if they need assistance or liability protection," White testified. "While the report recommendations do not threaten a rancher's right to burn, that right should not be lost as recommendations for the Prescribed Burning Board and TDA leave the Sunset Commission and head into the legislative process next year," White said afterwards. The Commission staff report recommends the Prescribed Burning Board be made an advisory committee to TDA. It also recommends TDA be given more authority to certify prescribed burn managers and to enforce against those individuals who falsify training and insurance documentation. The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission members are 10 legislators and two appointed public members. The Commission seeks public input through hearings on every agency under review and recommends actions on each agency to the full Legislature. In most cases, agencies under review are automatically abolished unless legislation is enacted to continue them. Each state agency is reviewed every 12 years.
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